Château Tourteau-Chollet has risen to the challenge

Winegrower Bordeaux

Château Tourteau-Chollet, a Graves classified growth, has risen to the challengeGraves terroirs are full of immense potential! This fact did not escape the scrutiny of Maxime Bontoux when in 2001 he had the opportunity to take over the management of this 200-year-old estate located in Arbanats. Neither the severe frosts in 1956 nor the crisis of 1974 had got the better of this vineyard and it is still radiantly healthy thanks to the efforts of its new manager who strives mark this estate with his own values and bring a fresh outlook on an economy that is currently undergoing profound developments.

Working closely with the land and keeping a keen eye on markets

Wearing his winegrower’s attire, Maxime Bontoux receives at his estate. He admits straight away that when he arrived in this region he was immediately won over by the Graves area, birthplace of Bordeaux wines and home to legendary Château Haut-Brion. Convinced of the potential of this land, he rapidly extended the estate to 76 hectares, 63 hectares of which are under vine (310 000 in total!) The new manager initially concentrated his efforts on technology. He introduced ultramodern installations, renovation of buildings and a vat house easily capable of dealing with an annual production of 2 800 hectolitres. Sales procedures work extremely well, to serve the clientele (individual customers, wine boutiques or central purchasing groups) as swiftly as possible. Maxime Bontoux’s obsession is to satisfy with utmost efficiency his customers’ expectations, which he constantly strives to fully understand.

Château Tourteau-Chollet
3 chemin de Chollet
33640 Arbanats - France
Tel. 05 56 67 47 78
Fax. 05 56 67 40 09

The consumer is the centre of attention

One of the five wines produced at the estate is red Château Tourteau-Chollet matured in barrels; it will delight consumers seeking a quality wine possessing hints of undergrowth and secondary aromas derived from maturation in oak barrels (200 000 bottles produced per year – retail price in supermarkets, approximately 9 Euros). The wine-making methods used for making red Château Tourteau are worthy of the finest wines and it therefore preserves its initial qualities for many years. Well-informed consumers will find its perfect expression after 10 to 15 years of ageing (30 000 bottles produced per year – price in wine shops approximately 15 to 20 Euros). Château Tourteau-Chollet 2003 AOC Graves red obtained two stars in the 2007 Hachette wine guide.
As for white wine (100% Sauvignon Blanc), the 2004 vintage rapidly won a gold medal at the ‘Wines of Aquitaine Competition’ held in Bordeaux.
To make a good wine, one must be a good technician and for the wines of Tourteau-Chollet, Maxime Bontoux demands accomplished wines, those that bring emotions. The estate is now beginning its 8th year of activity with a serene approach.

One of the first estates to receive “Terra Vitis” approval

In 2004 “Terra Vitis”, a reference for rational vine growing procedures came to give its approval to vine growing and wine-making methods at Château Tourteau-Chollet. This was an extremely encouraging acknowledgement for the work carried out by Maxime Bontoux and his team. So, how do they proceed? Full involvement at every level and three key words for management are constantly hammered in: respect, quality and confidence. Respect for others, for commitments made and for those who work in the vineyard… Château Tourteau-Chollet has a permanent team of ten staff who all sincerely adhere to the philosophy of this estate.

And now…

What can Château Tourteau-Chollet possibly hope for now in its irrepressible ascension? “We are anticipating 50% more work in the forthcoming 30 years” Maxime Bontoux tells us. Like many others, he is now working towards increased concentration, by planting a greater number of vines per hectare. Patiently, meticulously, Maxime Bontoux is establishing the reputation of Château Tourteau-Chollet and intends to make even more progress: “as much as possible…”

As Vinexpo Asia-Pacific approaches… three questions for Maxime Bontoux, owner of Château Tourteau-Chollet

Bordeaux wines have an excellent position amongst top-of-the-range wines exported to Asia. What percentage of your sales do you currently export to China?

“Between 0% and 5%; the Chinese market offers great potential.”

To what extent are you concentrating your efforts on the Chinese market? In your opinion, what are the prospects for the wines of Château Tourteau-Chollet in Asian countries in the years to come?

“With regards to the size of the population, there are considerable opportunities. The sales target is even wider due to the huge number of inhabitants. In the future, sales to Asia could represent a third of our exports.”

What is the strategy you are implementing in order to reach this potential market of consumers? Do you have partners in Asia? Have you started carrying out any communication activities or sales campaigns?

“We are in a phase of preliminary market analysis at present. At Vinexpo Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong we will be sharing a stand with other producers. Prospects for our wines in Asia are at an early stage of development.”CFN