Desmirail, Chateau
Summary
Château Desmirail is a Margaux Third Growth estate spanning 40 hectares across Margaux, Arsac, and Cantenac, where the Lurton family produces Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Bordeaux blends from gravelly soils that provide excellent drainage and heat retention. The estate maintains traditional practices including hand-harvesting and parcel-by-parcel vinification in temperature-controlled tanks, aging their grand vin for 12-14 months in French oak while gradually incorporating modern techniques like optical sorting and gravity-flow systems.
Heritage & Leadership
Château Desmirail traces its origins to the late 17th century when Jean Desmirail, a lawyer in the Bordeaux Parliament, established the estate in the Margaux appellation. The property gained formal recognition in 1855 when it was classified as a Third Growth (Troisième Cru) in the Official Bordeaux Wine Classification, a designation it maintains to this day. After changing hands several times throughout its history, the château found stability in 1981 when Denis Lurton acquired the property, adding it to the family's collection of Bordeaux estates. The Lurton family, with deep roots in Bordeaux viticulture, has maintained ownership for over four decades, with Denis Lurton directly overseeing operations until recently when his daughter Hélène Lurton assumed management responsibilities. Under the Lurton stewardship, the château has undergone significant renovations to both its winemaking facilities and historic buildings, including restoration work on the distinctive 19th-century château that serves as the estate's visual centerpiece.
Vineyards & Wines
Château Desmirail encompasses 40 hectares of vineyards situated on the left bank of the Garonne River within the Margaux appellation. The vineyard parcels are distributed across the communes of Margaux, Arsac, and Cantenac, with the primary plots located on the gravel-rich soils that define the Margaux terroir. These Günzian gravel soils, formed during the Quaternary period, provide excellent drainage and heat retention that particularly benefits the estate's dominant grape variety, Cabernet Sauvignon, which comprises 60% of plantings. Merlot accounts for 39% of the vineyard area, while Petit Verdot completes the remaining 1%. The vine density averages 10,000 plants per hectare, with an average vine age of 25 years. The estate produces approximately 120,000 bottles annually, divided between its grand vin, Château Desmirail, and its second wine, La Réserve de Desmirail. The grand vin typically displays the classic Margaux characteristics of aromatic complexity, refined tannins, and balanced structure.
Philosophy & Practice
At Château Desmirail, vineyard management follows traditional Bordeaux practices with careful attention to each vineyard parcel's specific needs. Harvest is conducted by hand, with grapes sorted twice—first in the vineyard and again at the winery—to ensure only optimal fruit enters the production process. The winemaking facilities, modernized under Lurton ownership, feature temperature-controlled stainless steel vats of varying sizes that allow for precise vinification of separate parcels. Fermentation occurs over approximately three weeks, followed by maceration periods tailored to each vat's characteristics. The grand vin ages for 12 to 14 months in French oak barrels, with 40% new oak used annually. The estate employs a technical team that includes consulting oenologist Jacques Boissenot and later his son Eric, who have worked with numerous classified growths throughout the Médoc. While maintaining traditional Bordeaux winemaking methods, Château Desmirail has gradually implemented more precise techniques, including optical sorting technology and gravity-flow systems that minimize mechanical intervention during the winemaking process.