Malartic Lagraviere, Chateau
Summary
Château Malartic-Lagravière is a 53-hectare Pessac-Léognan estate owned by the Bonnie family since 1997, producing classified red and white Bordeaux from Günzian gravel soils that particularly benefit their Cabernet Sauvignon plantings. Their traditional approach combines hand harvesting and plot-by-plot vinification in their gravity-flow winery, maintaining the terroir expression that earned them recognition in the 1953 Official Graves Classification for both their red and white wines.
Heritage & Leadership
Château Malartic-Lagravière traces its origins to the late 18th century when it was known as Domaine de Lagravière. The estate gained its current name when it was acquired by the family of Count Hippolyte de Malartic, a distinguished French naval officer who served as governor of Mauritius. In 1953, the château earned recognition as one of only six properties to receive classification for both its red and white wines in the Official Graves Classification.
A pivotal moment in the estate's history came in 1997 when the Belgian couple Alfred-Alexandre and Michèle Bonnie purchased the property. The Bonnie family, with backgrounds in management and oenology, embarked on an extensive renovation program that transformed both the vineyards and winemaking facilities. Today, their children Véronique and Jean-Jacques Bonnie manage the estate, with Véronique focusing on marketing and Jean-Jacques overseeing technical operations. Under their stewardship, Malartic-Lagravière has implemented precision viticulture techniques while maintaining the estate's historical significance in the Pessac-Léognan appellation.
Vineyards & Wines
Château Malartic-Lagravière encompasses 53 hectares of vineyards situated on a high terrace of Günzian gravel in the Pessac-Léognan appellation. The vineyard is divided with 46 hectares dedicated to red varieties and 7 hectares to white grapes. The red vineyard consists of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, while the white vineyard is planted with 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon.
The estate's distinctive terroir features deep gravel soils over a clay-limestone subsoil, providing excellent drainage and heat retention that particularly benefits the Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyards sit at an elevation of 20 to 25 meters above sea level, creating a natural drainage system that helps regulate water supply to the vines. The average age of the vines is 25 years, with some parcels exceeding 40 years of age.
The château produces three main wines: Château Malartic-Lagravière Rouge (red), Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc (white), and a second wine called La Réserve de Malartic (in both red and white versions). Annual production averages 16,000 cases of red wine and 3,500 cases of white wine.
Philosophy & Practice
The Bonnie family has implemented a comprehensive approach to viticulture and winemaking that balances innovation with respect for tradition. In 2008, the estate completed construction of a gravity-flow winery designed to minimize mechanical intervention in the winemaking process. This facility features double-sorting tables, small temperature-controlled stainless steel vats for plot-by-plot vinification, and a barrel cellar capable of housing 1,000 barrels.
Vineyard management at Malartic-Lagravière follows High Environmental Value (HVE) certified practices, with a focus on biodiversity and reduced chemical inputs. The estate practices green harvesting, leaf thinning, and maintains low yields of 40 hectoliters per hectare for red wines and 45 hectoliters per hectare for whites.
For red wine production, fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats with regular punch-downs and pump-overs to extract color and tannins. The wines typically age for 18 months in French oak barrels, with 65% new oak for the grand vin. White wines ferment in barrel with regular lees stirring (bâtonnage) and age for 11 months with similar oak proportions.
The technical team conducts extensive plot-by-plot analysis to determine optimal harvest dates, with picking done entirely by hand using small crates to preserve berry integrity. This meticulous approach to both viticulture and vinification reflects the Bonnie family's commitment to expressing the distinctive character of their Pessac-Léognan terroir.