Château de Cruzeau
An Unexpected Discovery
Discreet, Château de Cruzeau seduces with its remarkable gravel terroir. Its homogeneity is exceptional. Covering almost 100 hectares, the estate is set on gravelly hilltops, rich in rolled pebbles. The plots are generally south-facing: an ideal situation for producing great wines, typical of the Pessac-Léognan appellation.
Vines thrive in this exceptional terroir, producing wines whose reputation is well established. Quality and finesse characterize Château de Cruzeau’s red wines. The fruity whites are marked by the aromas of Sauvignon Blanc. In the cellar, fermentation of the juices in tuns enables the varietal typicity to be expressed, while the wine is kept on its lees to give it volume on the palate.
The history of the Château
Château de Cruzeau, located on the borders of Martillac and Saint-Médard-d’Eyrans, in the southern part of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, is a very old terroir.
Its origins date back to the 17th century. The estate was founded by Jacques de Cruzeau, a prominent Bordeaux lawyer. This lawyer bequeathed his name to the estate and inspired its winegrowing vocation. In the 18th century, he was succeeded by the wealthy merchant Sieur Nolibois, whose extensive business connections helped to make Cruzeau wines a household name in Bordeaux. Their high quality and finesse were soon recognized by the city’s best brokers. In 1841, the magazine “Le Producteur” elevated Cruzeau to the rank of premier cru of the commune, in both red and white.
In 1858, the Cante family owned the estate and produced fifteen barrels of red and white wine.
The Château as we know it today was built in 1912. A number of 18th-century buildings remain, bearing witness to the area’s winegrowing past.
It was in 1973, in the aftermath of a storm – a kind of localized mini-tornado – during which a plot of young pine trees had been completely devastated, that André Lurton discovered this property. Curious, he took a walk around the property. The roots of the uprooted trees were studded with pebbles: an extraordinary gravelly terroir, with all the qualities required to produce a great wine here. He immediately bought the estate, whose vineyards had all but disappeared since the end of the 19th century, under the repeated assaults of phylloxera.
From 1975 onwards, André Lurton and his teams concentrated all their efforts on restoring the Château de Cruzeau to its former glory. Clearing, renovating, restoring, clearing, planting and replanting followed one another.
Production tools also needed to be modernized. In 2001, this was achieved, with the construction of an ageing cellar capable of holding two thousand barrels. A large reception room was also added.
Vineyard data sheet
Area
White 14 hectares
Red 55 hectares
Grape varieties
White 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Red 54% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Carménère
Soils
White Deep gravel
Red Deep gravel
Buy our wines
direct from the Châteaux
All our wines are available for direct sale at the estate, at the Château La Louvière boutique (with tasting facilities) and at the Château Bonnet reception (currently no tasting facilities).
At Château La Louvière, you can round off your visit with a tour of our cellars, a wine tasting session or even take part in one of our workshops (booking recommended). Located just 20 minutes from the center of Bordeaux, we welcome you to the Château all year round, Monday to Friday (including Saturdays from April to October), from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 5pm.
Château de Cruzeau
1, allée de Cruzeau - 33650 Saint Médard d'Eyrans
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