Château Montrose

Identity

Château Montrose is a winegrowing estate located in the commune of Saint-Estèphe, in the Gironde department. It is classified as a Deuxième Grand Cru Classé under the 1855 classification.

The estate is owned by the Bouygues family. General management is led by Pierre Graffeuille, with Vincent Decup as technical director and Eric Boissenot as consultant oenologist.

History and philosophy

The Château Montrose vineyard was established in 1815 by Théodore Dumoulin. The property was subsequently acquired by Mathieu Dollfus in 1866, and then by the Charmolüe family in 1896, who owned it for nearly a century.

In 2006, Château Montrose was acquired by Martin and Olivier Bouygues. Since 2022, Charlotte Bouygues and Pierre Graffeuille have managed the estate. Château Montrose pursues an active environmental policy that includes the use of solar panels and CO2 capture during vinification. The estate also runs its tractors on HVO biofuel.

The property is in conversion to organic farming, with certification expected for the 2025 vintage. An experimental parcel was planted in 2023, aimed at long-term vineyard restructuring under the "Plan Montrose 2070" initiative. Trials involving massal selection of Cabernet Sauvignon across various rootstocks, planting densities, and pruning methods are currently underway.

Château Montrose has also developed a premium line of cosmetics under the brand Dix Hectares. The spring-summer range, launched in May, uses plant extracts such as yarrow, clover, malted barley, and comfrey. The autumn-winter range, launched in September, includes a serum, a cream, and a cleansing balm. Dedicated planting for these botanicals began in July 2022, with the first trials conducted in 2023.

Appellations

Château Montrose produces its wines under the Saint-Estèphe appellation.

Practical information

Château Montrose is located at 3, Grandes Vignolles, 33180 SAINT-ESTÈPHE.

The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 56 59 30 12 or by email at chateau@chateau-montrose.com.

Visits are by appointment only for wine trade professionals, from Monday to Friday at 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 3:30 pm. The estate does not offer cellar-door sales, mail orders, accommodation, or on-site dining.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Montrose vineyard extends over 95 hectares, set directly opposite the Gironde estuary. The soils are characterised by a clay subsoil. The average age of the vines is 40 years.

The grape varieties comprise 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Harvesting is carried out by hand.

Flagship cuvées

The estate's grand vin is Château Montrose, a wine that expresses the distinctive typicity of its terroir. The second wine is named La Dame de Montrose, and the third wine is Le Tertio de Montrose. Annual production is approximately 350,000 bottles.

Vinification and ageing

While specific technical details regarding vinification and ageing practices across all cuvées are not fully detailed in available sources, the cellar work is entirely focused on expressing the authentic character of the Saint-Estèphe terroir.