Château Soutard

Identity

Château Soutard is a winegrowing estate located in Saint-Émilion, in the Gironde department. It has been owned by the AG2R La Mondiale group since 2006. Olivier Brunel serves as estate manager and Véronique Corporandy is the cellar master.

History and Philosophy

The history of Château Soutard dates back to 1513, with the earliest record of the "bourdieu de Mayne de Soutard". The estate took on its viticultural focus during the 17th century. In 1699, Jean Couture purchased the property, and in 1741 Marie Couture oversaw the construction of the neoclassical château, which has been listed as a Monument Historique since 2015.

In the early 19th century, Hyacinthe Lavau, a renowned winegrower, contributed to the estate's development. In 1919, the property passed to Michel des Ligneris. Château Soutard was acquired in 2006 by AG2R La Mondiale.

The estate practices sustainable viticulture and is managed according to organic farming principles, although it is not certified organic. It also holds High Environmental Value certification (HVE-3).

Appellations

Château Soutard produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé appellation.

Practical Information

Address: 465, route de Saint-Christophe, 33330 Saint-Émilion.

Telephone: 05 57 24 71 41

Email: contact@soutard.com

The tasting room and boutique are open from Monday to Sunday, mornings and afternoons. The estate offers tours by appointment (€23/person) and welcomes over 20,000 visitors each year. Tours are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Château Soutard provides accommodation with three guest rooms in the orangery. Facilities include parking, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning. The estate is wheelchair accessible (PRM) and pets are welcome.

Cellar-door sales and mail-order purchases are available, including international shipping. The estate accepts payment by credit card, cash, cheque, and holiday vouchers. Château Soutard has been awarded the Best of Wine Tourism and Vignobles & Découvertes distinctions.

Find Out More

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The Château Soutard vineyard extends over a contiguous single block of 30 hectares in the heart of the Saint-Émilion limestone plateau. The soils are composed of 70% clay-limestone plateau, 17% clay hillsides, and 13% sandy-clay slopes (pied de côte).

The grape varieties are predominantly Merlot (63%), complemented by Cabernet Franc (28%), Cabernet Sauvignon (7%), and Malbec (2 to 3%). The average vine age is 35 years, with a planting density of 7,500 vines per hectare. The harvest is carried out by hand.

Flagship Cuvées

The main cuvée is Château Soutard, a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé. The wines produced are renowned for being powerful, structured, and precise.

The estate also offers a second wine, Petit Soutard (formerly Les Jardins de Soutard), whose blend is dominated by Merlot, completed by Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a touch of Malbec. This wine is characterised by its finesse, supple tannins, crisp acidity, and aromas of crunchy red fruit and floral notes.

Vinification and Ageing

The second wine, Petit Soutard, is aged for 14 to 18 months in oak barrels, 60% of which are new and 40% one-wine barrels.