Château de Malleret

The Château de Malleret dates back to the 16th century. The estate was owned by Pierre Eyquem, who died in 1560. A plot of vines, named “Peyquem,” stands as a testament to this long history.

One of the great assets of the Château de Malleret vineyard is its wonderful diversity of terroir. The 57 hectares of vineyards stretch across Garonne gravel soils and a gravelly-sandy plateau. Far from being “menial labor,” pruning at Château de Malleret is considered one of the noblest tasks—a true love affair between the vine and the person who shapes it. In this way, dignity is restored to this essential activity, which is indispensable to the quality of the upcoming vintage.

At Château de Malleret, we use single Guyot and double Guyot pruning methods, along with Cordon de Royat pruning on certain plots. This technique, rarely used in the Médoc, is ideal for ensuring exceptional yield quality as well as unparalleled aesthetic uniformity. By pruning to leave every other bud, the vine is better aerated, and the clusters are less compact, reducing the risk of rot.

The wine-making cellar is a hive of activity during harvest time. The grapes are poured into a vibrating conveyor that ensures, without crushing, perfect drainage of the berries and even distribution onto the sorting table: around it, 14 people remove by hand any remaining plant matter still visible.

The aging process practiced at Château de Malleret is primarily aimed at bringing out the aromas to the fullest—specifically, avoiding “stifling” them and achieving the best balance: the subtle oak notes round out the wine with lovely supple tannins, length, elegance, and pleasant hints of vanilla.