Château Hourtin-Ducasse

Identity

Château Hourtin-Ducasse is a family-owned winegrowing estate located in Saint-Sauveur, in Gironde. The estate is managed by Marie-Noëlle and Michel Marengo alongside their seven children.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Hourtin-Ducasse dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries, taking its name from owners of those eras. The Marengo family acquired and has run the estate since 1976. The château was classified Cru Bourgeois in 2012.

The estate's philosophy centres on a pursuit of excellence and the protection of its terroir. Château Hourtin-Ducasse is committed to environmentally friendly practices through conservation agriculture, drawing on organic and biodynamic farming methods. The estate has achieved HVE 3 certification and is part of the Vignobles et Découvertes network. It is also a member of the Vigneron Indépendant organisation, aiming to pass down a healthy environment to future generations.

Appellations

The wines of Château Hourtin-Ducasse are produced under the Haut-Médoc appellation, in the commune of Saint-Sauveur, near Pauillac.

Practical information

Address: 3, route de la Chatole, 33250 Saint-Sauveur, France

Telephone: +33 5 56 59 56 92

Email: bienvenue@mnmdumedoc.fr or visit@hourtin-ducasse.com

Château Hourtin-Ducasse is open every day, year-round, with tours generally offered from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm. Weekend visits are available by appointment. The estate accommodates groups of 10 to 40 people. Tours are conducted in French, German, and English. The estate offers various activities such as aperitifs in the cellars or vineyards, tastings, garden picnics, and afternoon teas. Activities for children, including table tennis, piñatas, and games, are also available. An on-site shop is open, and American Express payments are accepted. The estate occasionally participates in open-cellar events with dedicated opening hours.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard spans 23 hectares of vines cultivated across a total estate surface of 25 hectares. The soils are clay-limestone over a siliceous-gravel subsoil. The average age of the vines exceeds twenty years. The grape varieties planted are Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

Tillage has been exclusively mechanical since 2000. The estate uses essential oil-based treatments made from citrus fruits, seaweed, and legumes. The plots feature natural grass cover, and Landais ewes are used for grazing and natural fertilisation. The estate also incorporates nesting boxes for blue tits and bats, as well as electrical wave sensors on the vine stocks.

Signature cuvées

The estate produces typical Bordeaux red wines, characterised by a blend of Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. These wines are crafted with low sulphite levels. The château also offers a fresh, summery rosé, made from a blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet-Sauvignon, pressed immediately after harvest.

In addition to its wines, Château Hourtin-Ducasse crafts a spirit macerated with juniper berries, dried nettles, Penja white pepper, and Corsican pink grapefruit zest.

Vinification and ageing

Vinification of the red wines is carried out half in oak barrels, with bâtonnage during fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation takes place directly in barrels, followed by malolactic fermentation also in barrels. The red wines are aged in one- to three-year-old oak barrels. The estate employs innovative methods such as music therapy and conducts blind blending. Average annual production is approximately 60,000 to 80,000 bottles. Harvesting is carried out both mechanically and by hand. The estate uses lightweight glass bottles to reduce its carbon footprint.