Château Prieuré-Lichine

C hâteau Prieuré-Lichine is located in Cantenac, in the Gironde department. A Margaux appellation wine, it is classified as a Fourth Growth (Quatrième Grand Cru) of the Château Prieuré-Lichine estate in the official 1855 Bordeaux wine classification. Dating back to the 16th century, when it was owned by the clergy, the Château Prieuré-Lichine estate saw a succession of owners throughout the 19th and 20th centuries before being purchased in 1951 by Alexis Lichine, a world-renowned wine critic and authority in the wine world. It was under his leadership that the estate underwent significant expansion and major technical improvements and acquired its current name. Château Prieuré-Lichine was eventually sold to the Ballande family, who already owned Château Barec in Pessac-Léognan.

The Château Prieuré-Lichine vineyard, covering an area of 70 hectares, comprises plots spread across the five communes of the Margaux appellation. The vines are planted with 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. The harvest is carried out entirely by hand.

The wines of Château Prieuré-Lichine are crafted with the utmost care, in harmony with the terroir and the vines, making the most of the diversity of the plots that make up the vineyard. Stéphane Derenoncourt, the château’s winemaker, produces high-quality wines with the assistance and guidance of Michel Rolland . Since 1973, the Château Prieuré-Lichine estate has also produced a second wine in the Margaux appellation: Château de Clairefon.