Château Haut Gaussens

Identity

Château Haut Gaussens is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Vérac, in the Gironde department. It is managed by Hervé Lhuillier.

History and Philosophy

The estate's history dates back to the 1940s, when it was founded by Catherine and Daniel Lhuillier. Michel and Annie Lhuillier were also subsequent owners of the château. Today, the estate is owned by Hervé Lhuillier, who works alongside oenologist Stéphane Renversade.

Château Haut Gaussens is committed to environmental certification, having achieved Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) Level 3. Cultivation practices at the estate include parcel-by-parcel monitoring, natural grass cover between the vines, under-vine tillage, summer leaf thinning, yield control per vine, and rigorous ripeness checks prior to harvest. The vineyard is managed sustainably (*culture raisonnée*).

Appellations

Château Haut Gaussens produces wines under the AOP Bordeaux and AOP Bordeaux Supérieur appellations. It is primarily associated with the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation.

Practical Information

Château Haut Gaussens is located at 347 Route des Gaussens, 33240 Vérac. You can contact the estate by telephone at +33 (0)5 57 84 48 01 or by email at herve.lhuillier@fleurhautgaussens.com.

The estate welcomes visitors all year round for tastings. Groups are received by appointment. The property is also open to motorhome travellers, who can stay overnight free of charge and enjoy a tasting in the cellar. Cellar-door sales and mail orders are available.

Find Out More

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The Château Haut Gaussens vineyard covers an area of 15 hectares. The soils are predominantly clay-limestone, with certain plots also described as pure clay, benefiting from a southerly exposure. The average age of the vines is 32 years.

The grape varieties for the red wines comprise Merlot (85%), Cabernet Franc (5%), Cabernet Sauvignon (5%), and Malbec (5%). A broader planting overview also mentions Carménère. For the white wines, Sauvignon Blanc accounts for 100% of the planted area (2 hectares), while the reds cover 33 hectares. Harvesting is carried out both by hand and mechanically.

Flagship Cuvées

The estate offers a range of cuvées that reflect the diversity of its terroirs and grape varieties.

Château Haut Gaussens Tradition

This cuvée is crafted under the AOP Bordeaux Supérieur appellation. It is predominantly a blend of Merlot (90 to 95%) and Cabernet Franc grown on clay-limestone soils. The wine is designed to have an ageing potential of 3 to 10 years.

Château Fleur Haut Gaussens Grand Vin

The Grand Vin is a red wine crafted from the estate's finest plots. It is made from equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec, and is entirely vinified and aged in 400-litre French oak barrels. Its cellaring potential is estimated between 5 and 8 years.

Château Fleur Haut Gaussens Malbec La Viminière

A red wine crafted from 100% Malbec, sometimes vinified with whole clusters, under the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation.

Other Cuvées

The estate also produces other red cuvées under the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation, notably a Cabernet Franc Bergeronnette cuvée and a Terre cuvée. For white wines, the estate offers Bordeaux Pierre Blanche and Bordeaux Grand Blanc.

Vinification and Ageing

For the Tradition cuvée, the grapes are hand-sorted prior to a 3- to 5-day cold pre-fermentation maceration. Vinification takes place under temperature control with a 3- to 4-week vatting period, including a warm post-fermentation maceration. Ageing takes place on the fine lees.

The Grand Vin cuvée is vinified entirely in 400-litre French oak barrels.