Château Haut Nouchet

Identity

Château Haut Nouchet is located in the commune of Martillac, in Gironde. It is owned by the Briest family, with Domitille, Gauthier, and Thibaut Briest.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Haut Nouchet dates back to the late 19th century, when the estate came into the possession of the Vayssière family through inheritance. Marcel Vayssière, then senator and mayor of Martillac, contributed significantly to its reputation. In 1908, Château Haut Nouchet was awarded a gold medal at the London Universal Exposition.

In the late 1960s, the property was sold to a real estate developer. In the early 1970s, Lucien Lurton rescued the Haut Nouchet estate from this project, restored the buildings, and began replanting the vineyard. In 1992, Louis Lurton took over management. It was also in 1992 that environmentally conscious vineyard practices were introduced, eliminating chemical weedkillers through traditional mechanical soil cultivation and using natural pheromones.

In September 2008, Château Haut Nouchet was acquired by the Briest family. The estate is committed to environmentally responsible viticulture and has held Agriculture Biologique certification since 1992. It also holds the Vignerons Indépendants, Vignobles et Découvertes, Bienvenue à la Ferme, Accueil Vélo, and Scandibérique accreditations.

The appellations

Château Haut Nouchet produces wines under the Pessac-Léognan appellation.

Practical information

Château Haut Nouchet is located at 3 Chemin La Tour, 33650 Martillac. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 57 12 07 63 or by email at contact@hautnouchet.com.

The cellar door shop is open year-round. Estate visits and tastings are available by appointment, booked 24 to 48 hours in advance depending on the selected package. The property offers comprehensive tours covering the estate's history, a walk through the vineyards, the fermentation room, and the barrel cellar, concluded with a food and wine pairing tasting. Treasure hunts and fun activities are also available for children. The Découverte tour is free of charge. Tours are conducted in French and English. The estate can host groups of up to 300 people. Pets are not permitted. Payment can be made by card, cash, or bank transfer. The estate offers home delivery and operates an online shop.

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The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Haut Nouchet vineyard covers a total area of 32 hectares, of which 13 hectares are planted with red grape varieties and 2 hectares with white grape varieties. It is situated in the commune of Martillac. The terroir is characterised by three Günzian gravel ridges resting on a compact clay-limestone matrix and bedrock. These soils are renowned for providing ideal conditions for producing fine red wines and, on the hillsides where the clay-limestone comes to the surface, for enhancing the aromatic expression of white grape varieties. The vineyard is among the highest-lying properties in the appellation, reaching a peak altitude of 49 metres above sea level.

The grape varieties for the red wines comprise Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (40%), Petit Verdot (7%), and Cabernet Franc (3%). Another source cites plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%) and Merlot (28%). For the white wines, the blend includes Sauvignon (60%) and Sémillon (40%). Another source notes Sauvignon or Sauvignon Blanc (78%) and Sémillon (22%).

Flagship cuvées

The estate produces a red cuvée, Château Haut Nouchet Rouge, and a white cuvée, Château Haut Nouchet Blanc. Annual production averages 80,000 bottles of red wine and 10,000 bottles of white wine.

Vinification and ageing

A modern vat house was constructed at Château Haut Nouchet in 1994.