Château Prieuré-Lichine

Identity

Château Prieuré-Lichine is a winegrowing estate located in Cantenac, in the Gironde. It was classified as a Quatrième Grand Cru Classé en 1855. The estate is owned by Groupe Ballande. Production is managed by Étienne Charrier, with Lise Latrille serving as Deputy Managing Director for development, sales, and communication, and Julien Lavenu as consulting oenologist.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Prieuré-Lichine dates back to the 10th century with the founding of the Prieuré de Cantenac, a Benedictine priory run by the monks of the abbaye de Vertheuil. The first official mention of the cru dates from 1444, and the estate was already recognised in 1745 in the Intendance de Bordeaux classification. In 1855, the estate was ranked as a Quatrième Grand Cru Classé.

In 1951, Alexis Lichine acquired the property, and in 1953, it took the name Château Prieuré-Lichine. Alexis Lichine was celebrated for introducing a warm tradition of hospitality to the estate. Following his passing on 1 June 1989, the estate was sold in 1999 to Groupe Ballande, its current owner.

In 2012, the vineyard was expanded by an additional 10 hectares in the commune of Arsac. In 2013, the estate inaugurated a new vat room housing 34 vats, including 20 tulip-shaped ones.

In 2019, the estate achieved Level 3 Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) certification. That same year, it won a Best of d'Or award in the Wine Tourism Services and Providers category.

Appellations

The parcels of Château Prieuré-Lichine are situated in the Bordeaux region, within the Médoc sub-region. The estate produces wines under the Margaux appellation, as well as wines under the Bordeaux and Haut-Médoc appellations.

Practical information

Château Prieuré-Lichine is located at 34 avenue de la Vème République, 33460 Cantenac, Margaux-Cantenac. The estate offers tours and tastings. Cellar door opening hours are as follows: from May to October, daily from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm; from November to April, Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Estate visits are available Monday to Sunday, including public holidays, from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Booking is mandatory for tours. The estate accommodates individual visitors and groups, with a reception capacity of up to 65 people for groups.

The estate features an on-site boutique, cellar door sales, and mail-order services. Spoken languages include French, German, English, and Spanish. Accepted payment methods include American Express, payment cards, bank and postal cheques, cash, and bank transfers. An audio guide is available. Pets are not allowed. The estate features an avant-garde tasting room offering panoramic views over the vines and the cellar.

Tasting workshops, historical or sensory tours, terroir discovery walks, picnics on the lawn, and electric bike trails are available. Tour-and-tasting experiences require a fee and include the tasting of 3 wines. The estate holds the Vignobles et Découvertes label.

To contact the estate: phone +33 5 57 88 36 28 or email visit@prieure-lichine.fr.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Prieuré-Lichine covers a total area of 78 hectares, with 75 hectares planted. The surface planted with red varieties is 71.5 hectares, while 3.5 hectares are dedicated to white varieties. The average age of the vines is 35 years. The soils consist of Pyrenean and Günzian gravel.

The grape varieties for the red wines are as follows: 51% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot. For the white wines, the blend of grape varieties consists of 70% Sauvignon blanc and 30% Sémillon.

Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand.

Flagship cuvées

The estate produces several cuvées. The Grand Vin is Château Prieuré-Lichine. The estate's second wine is named Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine. Other cuvées include Le Clocher du Prieuré and Le Blanc du Château Prieuré-Lichine. Another cuvée is also called Le Cloître de Prieuré-Lichine. Annual production is approximately 180,000 bottles.

Vinification and ageing

The wines are aged for a period of 14 to 16 months. Ageing is carried out with 40% new oak barrels.