Château de Malleret

Château de Malleret traces its origins back to the 16th century. The estate was owned by Pierre Eyquem, who died in 1560. A vineyard plot named "Peyquem" stands as a testament to this long history.

One of the greatest assets of the Château de Malleret vineyard is its rich diversity of terroir. The 57 hectares of vineyards stretch across Garonne gravel and a gravelly-sandy plateau. Far from being “menial labor,” pruning at Château de Malleret is considered one of the most noble tasks, a true love affair between the vine and the person who shapes it. Thus, dignity is restored to this essential activity, indispensable to the quality of the coming vintage.

At Château de Malleret, we use single Guyot and double Guyot pruning, plus Cordon de Royat pruning on certain plots. This technique, rarely used in the Médoc, is ideal for ensuring undeniable yield quality as well as incomparable aesthetic unity. By pruning every other bud, the vine is more open, the clusters less compact, thereby avoiding the risk of rot.

The fermentation room 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 the last remaining bits of plant matter still visible.

The aging process practiced at Château de Malleret aims primarily to bring out the aromas as fully as possible—in other words, to avoid “smothering” them and to find the best balance: the light oak aging enhances the wine with lovely supple tannins, length, elegance, and pleasant hints of vanilla.