Château Tourteau Chollet

Identity

Château Tourteau Chollet is located in the commune of Arbanats, in the Gironde department. The estate is managed by Maxime Bontoux and owned by SAS Partitor.

History and philosophy

The estate traces its origins back to around 1760 with royal notary Étienne Tourteau. In 1943, it was ranked among the classified growths of the Graves region. Maxime Bontoux, a graduate of the Bordeaux Faculty of Oenology, acquired Château Tourteau Chollet in 2001. Extensive modernisation work began that same year, including the construction of new cellars. In 2004, the vineyard expanded by 9 hectares. Biodiversity initiatives were introduced, such as planting hedgerows and fallow land, alongside adjusting planting densities and introducing new grape varieties. The Malbec plots came into production in 2014, followed by Sémillon in 2016. The estate earned Terra Vitis certification in 2005, Agriculture Raisonnée certification that same year, and the Bee Friendly label in 2019 in partnership with beekeepers. In 2019, the estate also joined the Grand Cercle des Vins de Bordeaux. In 2021, Château de Fleurus was acquired, integrating its 1969 parcel layout. The estate received the Vignobles & Découvertes and Ambassadeur de Graves labels in 2022, and won a Best Of Wine Tourism 2024 award in the Accommodation at the Property category.

Appellations

Château Tourteau Chollet produces wines under the Graves appellation.

Practical information

Château Tourteau Chollet is located at 3, Chemin de Chollet, 33640 Arbanats. You can get in touch by telephone on +33 (0)5 56 67 47 78 or by email at tourteauchollet@vitisvintage.com. Tastings are available, and private tours can be arranged upon request.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Tourteau Chollet spans 65 hectares. The soils consist of gravel and sand on the surface over clay subsoils. The climate is temperate oceanic. The estate has adopted viticultural practices that include banning chemical weedkillers and synthetic fertilisers, using biocontrol products for plant protection, deploying mating disruption, and planting an orchard. In 2015, flower-rich fallow strips were established to enhance biodiversity and soil regeneration, alongside a fruit tree replanting scheme in partnership with the ONF. The estate is home to over 40 beehives. The red grape variety mix comprises 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 18% Malbec, 7% Petit Verdot, and 2% Carménère. For the white wines, the current plantings consist of 63% Sauvignon Blanc and 12% Sémillon, with disease-resistant grape varieties scheduled for planting in 2026 to account for 25% of the future white plantings.

Flagship cuvées

The estate produces red and white wines. Notable cuvées include Château Tourteau Chollet, crafted in both red and white. The 1760 Le Grand Vin du Château Tourteau Chollet cuvée is also produced. Château Tourteau Chollet Cuvée Faugas, a white wine, is crafted from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon.

Vinification and ageing

For the white 1760 Le Grand Vin du Château Tourteau Chollet cuvée, ageing takes place in oak barrels for 12 months. Harvesting is carried out mechanically.