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Situated on the oldest wine-growing terroir in the Bordeaux area, Château Malartic-Lagravière, owned in the 18th century by the Comte de Malartic, admiral of King of France, is taken over in 1997 by the Bonnie family.
The 53 hectares (131 acres) estate, including 7 hectares (17 acres) of white, has been completely renovated. Based on the gravity concept, the high-performance vat house, devoted entirely to traditional wine-making methods, is recognized to date as one of the most modern and efficient.
From the beginning, the Bonnie Family has been attentive to the vineyard environment and the impact of tasks carried out by its teams on the vines and the grapes, and the surrounding area: the various habitats, flora and fauna, and water courses near the plots. Several large-scale good practices have been introduced at the property since 1997, with a bio-challenging spirit.
We are delighted to present you Vignobles Malartic’s Environmental Charter, which presents a summary of the rigorous eco-dynamic good practices to which the Bonnie family and its team have been committed since 1997.
Certified in sustainable farming since 2008, in 2015 we will be tackling HEV (High Environmental Value) approval for Château Malartic-Lagravière and Château Gazin Rocquencourt’s 75 hectares (185 acres) of vines.
Well beyond these certifications, we apply our eco-dynamic measures on a daily basis to the care of the vines as well as to the whole estate (facilities, park and gardens) in order to reduce our environmental impact to a minimum. This has been beneficial for the surrounding area, and has also a direct effect on the wines; with the passing years, the latter have gained in depth, minerality, and character, and require less human intervention.
The 2014 vintage will soon be available for en primeur tasting, and you will see that it offers a superb demonstration of the impact of these environmentally friendly practices on our wines. The weather in 2014 was somewhat capricious until the beautiful Indian summer, making good management of vineyard vitally important. The results are extremely promising.
Château Malartic-Lagravière is one of the only six classified growths both for its red and white. Its wines are well known all over the world for their complexity, elegance and intensity, which are appreciated in all the best places.
Open for tours by appointment and two rooms overlooking the park and the Chateau are for rent. To contact us, visit our new website: malartic-lagraviere.com
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Written by eleanor douglas
