Château Marjosse The Entre-deux-Mers region, so wisely named “Little Tuscany

Winegrower Bordeaux

Château MarjosseThe Entre-deux-Mers region, so wisely named “Little Tuscany”This area is completely encircled from north to south, nestled between the Dordogne and the Garonne, fed by its tributary the Lot, which stems from the heart of the Lozère. The Entre-deux-Mers region, so wisely named “Little Tuscany”, remains quite unique and is jealously protected by its inhabitants. You belong here or you don’t!

Envisage the natural heritage of the Entre-deux-Mers region, its advantageous navigable waterways that border historical medieval fortified towns dotted here and there, its villages listed amongst UNESCO’s World Heritage sites and its listed buildings … Upon slopes, plateaus, hills incised by numerous valleys, dug out by small tributaries that spring from Aquitaine’s two main waterways, vines stretch as far as the eye can see.

Some people, even wine enthusiasts, are not necessarily aware of the fifteen appellations that constitute the Entre-deux-Mers as a whole, but the most well-known of them all, reputed for its dry, lively white wines, is certainly the one which bears the name of this region! The Entre-deux-Mers cultivates a certain speciality in producing white wines, due to its basic geological assets, possessing gravelly-limestone soils, upon which Sémillon, Sauvignon, Muscadelle and even Ugni Blanc grape varieties are planted. But the variety of soils and sub-soils associated with such a complex landscape provides a diversity of terroirs … These are favourable for producing red wines, that are regrettably not sufficiently well-known, but highly prized for the complexity of their aromas, their deep, vivid colour, as well as the concentration and elegance of their tannins.

From Saint-Emilion to the Entre-deux-Mers …

At Château Marjosse the land possesses yet another specific feature, known locally as “la Boulbène”, a silty-clayey texture that has developed on ancient alluvions. The fertility of these soils no longer needs to be proved, because, by chance, they are also found in Saint-Emilion, a terroir that is extremely familiar to the man who manages “Cheval Blanc” …. Pierre Lurton.

Pierre Lurton, proprietor of this land …

Freed from his multitude of responsibilities in making the world’s most prestigious great growth wines, whose perfection can no longer even be measured, Pierre Lurton is primarily an instinctive winegrower, endowed with infinite good sense!

It would have been most unlikely that he should not have been tempted to run his own vineyard. Enchanted by the location of this estate, the exceptional character of the Grézillac terroir, planted with old vines, his intention was to shape the vineyard to draw superb wines from it.
The vineyard covers 65 hectares; 49 hectares are planted with vines for red wines, 16 hectares with vines for white wines, 3 hectares of which are held on a tenant-farming basis. It should be pointed out that in the past dry white and sweet white wines were produced in majority in the Entre-deux-Mers region; this trend was reversed however in favour of red wines, but it seems that white wines are returning to the forefront once again.

This estate now receives a clearly distinct influence, and developments are progressing at a good pace at Château Marjosse: improvements have been made to the vineyard, re-planting has been carried out to have a greater number of vines per hectare for an optimal cultivation of the terroir; new plots of superb quality land have been purchased; the existing vat house has been renovated and due to its architecture and the highly innovative features of its interior layout, has become the shining example of wine-making installations in the Entre-deux-Mers.

A vine must achieve an accurate, fragile and constant balance, and its essential elements are dictated by nature; skilfully grown by Man, the vine represents an unceasing revelation.

Assisted in this transformation by Consultant-Oenologist Pascal Poussevin, whose recommendations range from vine growing to wine-making, Pierre Lurton’s estate has now reached its cruising speed … Beyond the fabulous adventures he experiences in his role as manager of Châteaux d’Yquem, Cheval Blanc, as well as estates in South Africa, Latin America and in Australia … it is undoubtedly with “the salt of this land here in the Entre-deux-Mers” that his years of quest for perfection will be revealed. Château Marjosse is naturally drawing full advantage from the inevitable improvements bestowed by its owner, who, like ‘Sade’, could say: “The past inspires me, the present stimulates me and I’m impatient to discover the future …”

It is clear that this region needs winegrowers of such calibre, those who possess a sixth sense and, using techniques that almost resemble intentional alchemy, transform the grapes they touch into wines that exude the unique character of a specific area.

Pierre LURTON
Château MARJOSSE
33420 TIZAC-de-CURTON
Tél. : 05 57 74 94 66
Fax : 05 57 84 64 61