Château Lamothe Despujols

Identity

Château Lamothe Despujols is a family winegrowing estate located in the commune of Sauternes. It is managed by Guy Despujols, who acts as estate manager, cellar master and vineyard manager.

History and Philosophy

The château, whose construction dates back to the 16th century, has been a family-owned property since 1961, when it was acquired by the Despujols family. The estate is operated by SCEA du château Lamothe-Despujols, founded in 1989, and is now run by the third generation. Château Lamothe Despujols was classified as a Cru Classé in 1855.

Appellations

The estate produces wines under the Sauternes appellation. Established on 30 September 1936, the Sauternes AOC is reserved for sweet white wines crafted from grapes harvested in successive passes to select only the berries affected by noble rot. The authorised grape varieties are Sémillon, Sauvignon, and Muscadelle.

Practical Information

Château Lamothe Despujols is located at 3 Lamothe, 33210 Sauternes. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)7 86 29 65 96 or +33 (0)5 56 76 67 89, and by email at Vanessa.chateaulamothe@gmail.com or lamothe.sauternes@gmail.com.

Discovery tours of the vineyard and cellars, followed by a tasting of three wines, are available by appointment at €15 per adult (free for young children). Tours last approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes and can be conducted in French, English, and Spanish by a member of the Despujols family or a staff member. Recommended tour times are 10:30, 14:00, 15:00, or 17:00. Families and children are warmly welcomed, with grape juice tastings provided for younger guests. Evening tours can be arranged for groups of more than 10 people.

The estate features a picnic area and grounds. An off-site boutique, Cave des Lauréats, is located at 19 rue Principale, 33210 Sauternes, and is open daily from 10:00 to 19:00, offering a complimentary vertical tasting. The château also hosts an annual open house weekend on the weekend of 11 November.

On-site accommodation is available, including four en-suite bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a spacious lounge with a billiards table, and a terrace with panoramic views of the vineyards and the Ciron valley.

Find out more

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The vineyard spans an unbroken 7.5 to 8 hectares in the heart of the village of Sauternes. It enjoys south-eastern and south-western exposures on hilltops ranging between 15 and 60 metres in altitude. The soils consist of oyster-shell limestone, marl, clay-sand, and gravel. Planting density is 7,000 vines per hectare, and the average vine age exceeds 40 years. The grape varieties are predominantly Sémillon (85%), complemented by Sauvignon (10%) and Muscadelle (5%). Vineyard management follows a sustainable approach (lutte raisonnée), without the use of chemical plant protection products. Vineyard work is largely carried out by hand, including spur pruning from December to March, manual suckering and canopy lifting, and leaf removal in late July. Harvesting is performed entirely by hand through successive selective pickings (tries) of botrytised berries, spanning four to five passes over four to six weeks.

Flagship Cuvées

Château Lamothe Despujols offers several cuvées. Château Lamothe Despujols is the estate's primary wine. Two other cuvées are also produced: Château Lamothe Despujols Sélection Exceptionnelle and Château Lamothe Despujols Les Tourelles de Lamothe. Average annual production is around 20,000 standard 75 cl bottles.

Vinification and Ageing

Harvesting is carried out by hand in multiple selective passes to gather exclusively botrytised, candied grapes. The vinification process for these sweet wines is designed to preserve aromatic richness and the natural concentration of sugars.