Larose-Trintaudon, Chateau
Summary
Château Larose-Trintaudon operates 190 hectares of vineyards in the Haut-Médoc between Saint-Julien and Pauillac, producing primarily Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines from deep gravel soils with clay and limestone substrates. Their sustainable approach, evidenced by HVE certification, combines traditional methods with modern techniques, establishing the estate as a consistent quality standard-bearer within the Cru Bourgeois classification.
Heritage & Leadership
Château Larose-Trintaudon was established in 1719, making it one of the historic wine estates in the Haut-Médoc region of Bordeaux. The property's ownership changed several times throughout its history, with a significant transition occurring in 1986 when the German insurance group Allianz acquired the estate. Today, Château Larose-Trintaudon operates as part of Vignobles de Larose, a collection of Bordeaux properties under the same ownership.
The estate is classified as a Cru Bourgeois, a designation that recognizes quality producers outside the 1855 Classification system. Under the leadership of General Manager Franck Bijon, who oversees the Vignobles de Larose properties, the château has implemented significant modernization efforts in both vineyard management and winemaking facilities. The technical direction is handled by a team that maintains the estate's commitment to quality production while adapting to contemporary viticultural challenges.
Vineyards & Wines
Château Larose-Trintaudon possesses one of the largest vineyard holdings in the Médoc, with approximately 190 hectares under vine. The estate is strategically positioned in the northern Haut-Médoc between the appellations of Saint-Julien and Pauillac. This location provides the vineyards with the classic Médoc terroir of deep gravel soils mixed with clay and limestone substrates, offering excellent drainage and mineral complexity.
The vineyard is planted predominantly with Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), complemented by Merlot (38%) and small amounts of Petit Verdot (2%). This planting distribution reflects the traditional Left Bank Bordeaux approach, emphasizing Cabernet Sauvignon's structural contribution while using Merlot to add roundness and accessibility. The estate produces approximately 1.5 million bottles annually, with their flagship wine being the Château Larose-Trintaudon Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois. The property also produces a second wine, La Revélation de Larose-Trintaudon, which offers a more approachable expression of the estate's terroir.
Philosophy & Practice
Château Larose-Trintaudon has embraced sustainable viticulture practices throughout its operations. The estate holds High Environmental Value (HVE) certification, the highest level of environmental certification granted by the French Ministry of Agriculture. This commitment extends to their comprehensive approach to vineyard management, which includes mechanical weed control, targeted treatments, and biodiversity preservation across the property.
In the winery, traditional Bordeaux vinification techniques are employed with modern precision. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, allowing for careful extraction and preservation of fruit character. The wines undergo malolactic fermentation and are then aged in French oak barrels, with approximately 25% new oak for the main wine, for a period of 12-14 months. This measured approach to oak aging aims to complement rather than overwhelm the wine's natural expression of terroir. The estate's large production scale is balanced by attention to detail, with optical sorting technology ensuring only the highest quality grapes enter the winemaking process.