Chateau Le Boscq
AOC Saint-Estèphe
Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
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A WINE CRAFTED BY THE RIVER
Located on a magnificent terroir bordering the Gironde Estuary, overlooked by a majestic residence testament to its rich, centuries-old history. Distinguished red wines are produced here in the Château Le Boscq vineyard, which elegantly meld typical Saint-Estèphe robust character with unusual finesse. Dourthe has had a passion for this bijou estate in Saint-Estèphe since 1995.
Château Le Boscq, whose wines rival the quality of its prestigious grand cru neighbours…
Terre de Vins
Key facts
94/100
James Suckling
550
Metres of hedgerows planted.
0
CMR / chemical fertilisers / pesticides / herbicides
Planting
10,5 Ha Merlot
8 Ha Cabernet Sauvignon
1 Ha Petit Verdot
0,5 Ha Cabernet Franc
Soil profile
High, deep hilltop comprised of Garonne gravel and clay.
Total surface area
20 Ha
Terroir
Château Le Boscq is blessed with one of the finest aspects in Saint-Estèphe. The exceptional terroir, reaching 18m at the highest point, and gravel and clay outcrop, run alongside the Gironde, Europe’s largest estuary. Like the finest classic Medoc estates, Le Boscq lies on the front line where the microclimate often proves a godsend.
No expense is spared in revealing the exceptional quality of this premium terroir. Careful mapping of the vineyards has brought in-depth knowledge of each parcel and micro-parcel. The grape variety-terroir mix has therefore been carefully planned. The gravel outcrop promotes optimum ripeness in the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, while the slopes, with their cooler soils, are ideally suited to Merlot.
The estuary, which acts as a natural regulator, mitigates the effects of cold winters and very hot summers. The vineyard therefore manages to escape devastating frosts in 2017 and 1991, and also the 2003 heatwave.
Viticulture
Ambitious viticulture, advocating an environmentally-conscious approach.
The Le Boscq vineyard comprises 18ha of vines managed sustainably in its commitment to protect the environment. The estate is made up of several parcels dissected further into small ‘gardens’, with a high planting density of on average 9080 vines per hectare.
The estate is seen to go above and beyond the requirements of the two certifications, HVE3 and Terra Vitis.
Guyot Poussard.
Traditional ploughing, mechanical weeding. Manual budstripping, desuckering, leaf thinning and lateral shoot removal on Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.
Organic and biological control agents as a priority. CMR pesticides banned. Pheromone traps. Sustainable cover planting, temporary sowing depending on plot vigour.
Grapes of inconsistent ripeness are removed from mid-veraison as required. Selective harvesting. Manual. Sorting before destemming. Densimetric sorting before being transferred to tank by conveyor belt.
Winemaking and ageing
The grapes are received in a gravity-flow winery. The tank room is equipped with a system of optical sorting backed by densimetric sorting, to ensure a very precise selection of grapes, which are then gently transported by conveyor belt. The wines are aged in barriques, separated into batches until the blending stage, in two partly underground cellars.
Interestingly, not a single pump is used to receive the grapes in the winery in order to protect the quality of the grapes and keep the berries whole. Vinification takes place in small-capacity stainless-steel tanks. This way, small parcels of identical grapes can be vinified together, continuing the precision-led approach initiated in the vineyard.
The winery is equipped with optical and densimetric sorting for greater precision in sorting the grapes.
The team
Joachim Gilbert, Estate Manager
Frédéric Bonnaffous, Chief Winemaker
Our history
Since 1995, at Château Le Boscq we have continued to write our history already spanning 3 centuries, and featuring some of the famous names who have shaped Bordeaux, such as Thomas Barton. Discover the story of our ‘Gabarre’ Château, symbolising an era when barrels of wine were taken to Bordeaux by river on these majestic ‘gabarre’ barge-style boats.
2021
Acquisition of Château Le Boscq
Dourthe becomes the proud owner of Château Le Boscq, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel in Saint-Estèphe.
2020
Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel.
In the 18th century, the wines produced on the estate are transported in barrels by ‘gabarre’ (barge) as far as the port of Bordeaux. It is with reference to this historical fact, and to the chateau’s proximity to the estuary, that a barge now features on the labels as the emblem of the estate.
2012
La Gabarre
In the 18th century, the wines produced on the estate are transported in barrels by ‘gabarre’ (barge) as far as the port of Bordeaux. It is with reference to this historical fact, and to the chateau’s proximity to the estuary, that a barge now features on the labels as the emblem of the estate.
1995
Dourthe and Château Le Boscq
The history of Château Le Boscq and Dourthe begins some 26 years ago, when entrusted with the role of ‘tenant’ at the chateau. From 1995, the vineyard, spanning just over 18ha, is remodelled and transformed, and sees the introduction of an ambitious, environmentally-conscious viticultural regime.
1932
Cru Bourgeois
For more than 30 years, Jean Grazilhon strives to produce high quality wines, paving the way for Château Le Boscq to be awarded Cru Bourgeois status in 1932.
1891
A majestic chateau
In 1891 Jean Grazilhon commissions the existing chateau, a majestic residence enjoying commanding views over the Gironde Estuary, to replace the former dilapidated residence no longer considered in keeping with the quality of wine now produced on the estate.
1889
A new owner
Having successively purchased several plots of land from Eugène de Camiran, estate manager Jean Grazilhon, who comes from a long line of estate managers dating back to the time of Thomas Barton, becomes the new owner at Le Boscq. In 1874, it is Jean Grazilhon who builds the commemorative column that still watches over the vineyard today.
1839
The Camiran era
The estate is acquired by Jules de Camiran, who is already familiar with the property, having worked there for the previous owners. During the same period, he would also acquire Château Rahoul, Graves. His son Eugène, in a bid to overcome many financial difficulties, and the phylloxera crisis, gradually sells off land and shareholdings.
1749
Thomas Barton
Thomas Barton, an Irishman and founding member of the negociant House which today is the oldest on the Place de Bordeaux, takes over the tenancy for Château Le Boscq. He lives there until his death in 1780.
Gallery
