Prieure-Lichine, Chateau
Summary
Château Prieuré-Lichine is a historic Fourth Growth estate in Margaux operating across 77.5 hectares of deep Quaternary gravel soils, producing Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Bordeaux blends from vineyards planted at high density with an average vine age of 30 years. The estate combines traditional Bordeaux winemaking methods with precise parcel-by-parcel vinification in their modern winery, aging their wines for 16-18 months in French oak while maintaining sustainable viticulture practices that honor their classified growth status.
Heritage & Leadership
Château Prieuré-Lichine stands as a Fourth Growth (Quatrième Cru) estate according to the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. The property's origins trace back to the 12th century when Benedictine monks from Vertheuil Abbey established a priory on the site, cultivating vines for religious purposes. Originally known as Prieuré de Cantenac, the estate changed hands multiple times through the centuries before experiencing its defining modern chapter.
In 1951, Russian-born wine merchant and author Alexis Lichine purchased the property, adding his name to create Château Prieuré-Lichine. Under Lichine's three-decade stewardship until his death in 1989, the estate underwent substantial renovation and expansion. His son Sacha briefly managed the property before the Ballande Group, a French trading company with established wine interests, acquired the château in 1999. Since this acquisition, the Ballande family has continued investment in both vineyard holdings and winemaking facilities.
Vineyards & Wines
Château Prieuré-Lichine's vineyards span 77.5 hectares (191 acres) across the Margaux appellation, with parcels distributed throughout the communes of Cantenac, Margaux, and Arsac. The vineyard composition follows traditional Margaux planting patterns with 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc.
The estate's terroir features the classic Médoc gravelly soils, with deep deposits of Quaternary gravel providing excellent drainage. These gravel mounds rest upon clay-limestone subsoils that help regulate water supply to the vines. The vineyard's average vine age stands at 30 years, with planting density at 10,000 vines per hectare, following traditional Médoc practices to encourage competition and deeper root systems.
The château produces three wines: the grand vin Château Prieuré-Lichine, the second wine Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine, and a third wine, Château de Clairefont. The grand vin typically displays the elegant floral aromatics and refined tannin structure characteristic of the Margaux appellation.
Philosophy & Practice
The winemaking approach at Prieuré-Lichine balances traditional Bordeaux methods with modern precision. Following hand-harvesting, the grapes undergo a double sorting process—first in the vineyard and again at the winery—before destemming. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats of varying sizes, allowing for precise parcel-by-parcel vinification.
The estate completed construction of a new winery in 2015, featuring 28 vats specifically sized to correspond to individual vineyard blocks, enabling more precise lot-by-lot fermentation and aging. Malolactic fermentation takes place primarily in barrels, and the grand vin ages for 16-18 months in French oak barrels, with 50% new oak used annually.
Under technical director Étienne Charrier, who joined the estate in 2012, Prieuré-Lichine has implemented more precise vineyard management techniques, including detailed soil mapping to match rootstocks and grape varieties to specific soil types. The estate practices sustainable viticulture with mechanical weed control rather than herbicides, though it does not hold organic or biodynamic certification.