G&C Lurton Estates
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"TO REMAIN A FAMILY ESTATE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE"
At the end of the 17th century, Mister Gabriel Ferriere, a renowned ship-broker, acquires this cru, located in the heart of Margaux vineyards and gives it his family name. Royal brokers from father to son, the Ferriere family works for Louis the XVth in particular and wants to produce a great wine, for their several receptions. Two centuries later, Château Ferriere’s owners were proud to see the property ranked as a third Classified Growth. At the end of the 1980s, after almost 300 years in the Ferriere family, another Bordeaux family, the Merlaut, became owner. Bernadette Merlaut-Villars devoted herself to restoring the Château to its former glory.
After the accidental death of Bernadette Merlaut, her daughter Claire prematurely inherited the property. She was only 25 years old. Proving to be a passionate and avant-garde winegrower, she imposes her own style and steers Château Ferriere towards biodynamic agriculture. In the future, Claire knows she will one day pass on a perfectly healthy vineyard to her daughter Jeanne, the third generation woman owner of Château Ferriere.
"WE CANNOT CONSTANTLY TALK ABOUT THE TERROIR WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING TO PROTECT IT"
Claire Villars-Lurton
With method and determination, Claire redesigned the entire production chain, returning to a form of virtuous viticulture: reintegrating biodiversity and banishing the use of chemicals. This naturally led her to a conversion process and the obtaining of biodynamic certification for Château Ferriere’s vineyard and wines.
Pionneer of biodynamics in the Médoc, Château Ferriere inspires vocations. It became the Médoc branch of the Mouvement de l’Agriculture BioDynamique (MABD). The technical team supports wine properties undergoing conversion, federating them and preparing them for biodynamic methods.
The practice of biodynamics is not like a recipe. The different preparations are complementary and work in synergy. They are positioned at the heart of our technical itineraries according to their relevance, which depends in particular on the climate, the vegetative stage and the possible presence of pathogens.
PREPARATION 500
FILLED WITH COW DUNG, THE HORN MANURE IS BURIED DURING 6 MONTHS DURING WINTER IN THE PARK OF CH TEAU FERRIERE. THE MIXTURE IS DYNAMISED BEFORE BEING SPRAYED ONTO THE VINEYARD SOIL.
ENCOURAGES MICROBIAL ACTIVITY IN THE SOIL AND THE FORMATION OF HUMUS. BUILDS THE SOIL STRUCTURE AND REGULATES ITS PH. STIMULATES VERTICAL ROOT GROWTH. REQUIRED FOR BIODYNAMIC CERTIFICATION.
PREPARATION 501
THE SILICA ROCK IS CRUSHED, DILUTED AND POURED INTO A HORN WHICH IS BURIED DURING THE 6 MONTHS OF SUMMER IN THE PARK OF CH TEAU FERRIERE. THE MIXTURE IS THEN DYNAMISED AND SPRAYED ON THE AERIAL PARTS OF THE VINE.
THE MIXTURE FAVOURS GROWTH, ACTIVATES PHOTOSYNTHESIS, AND INCREASES THE RESISTANCE OF THE EPIDERMIS OF THE LEAVES AND FRUITS. THIS MAKES THE VINE MORE RESISTANT TO DISEASE. REQUIRED FOR BIODYNAMIC CERTIFICATION.
PREPARATION 508
PREVENTIVE AGAINST MILDEW. INCREASES THE PHYSICAL RESISTANCE OF THE PLANT.
ITS SILICA CONTENT REGULATES HUMIDITY.
STIMULATES THE GROWTH OF THE VINE AND ITS NATURAL DEFENCES AGAINST MILDEW.
PREVENTIVE AGAINST CRYPTOGAMIC DISEASES (MILDEW, POWDERY MILDEW AND BOTRYTIS).
PREPARATION 507
STIMULATES A FAVOURABLE FLOWERING, IMPROVES THE RIPENING OF THE SEEDS AND THE FORMATION OF POLYPHENOLS.
7/9
PREPARATION 502
MAKES IT EASIER TO COPE WITH HOT WEATHER.
8/9
PREPARATION 506
OPTIMISES THE QUALITY OF THE PLANT TISSUE. THUS IT PROMOTES THE NATURAL PROTECTION AGAINST MILDEW.
PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE AGAINST MILDEW
Broad bean, mustard, rye, oats, clover, fodder radish, fodder pea, fodder turnip, bird's-foot trefoil, blue lupin, flax...
At Château Ferriere we go further than the principles of biodynamics. The practice of green manuring also extends to the entire vineyard. The seeds chosen depend on the needs of each plot, and the age of the vines. These seedlings keep the soil cool in the summer and are particularly important for its structure (aeration, limitation of compaction). They also limit their oxidation, and therefore the presence of disease. They welcome the micro and macro fauna of the vineyard, thus multiplying biodiversity, including the microbial life of the soil. They are also a source of biomass when destroyed.
Finally, the introduction of hedges, around and within the plots, recreates plant corridors, being also useful for biodiversity.
More than one third of the property’s vines, comprising the 4 varieties of cabernet-sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and petit Verdot, were planted in the early 1950s. These old vines are not the result of a clonal selection and thus have their own identity. With their very deep roots, they offer concentrated fruit with complex and powerful aromas. They are also used for planting new vines (massal selection).
The Estate was certified organic in 2015 and biodynamic in 2018. Château Ferriere is also the only Classified Growth to be twice certified biodynamic, by both Demeter and Biodyvin. It is one of the rare Classified Growths to be biodynamic certified, not only in its vineyard, but also in the cellar.
To be so, Ferriere develops its own starter culture, avoids any input during vinification and limits the addition of sulfur to the strict minimum.
20% of the wine is aged in small ovoid concrete vats, developed by the property in 2012, and the biggest part of the ageing takes place in oak barrels.
Born of this approach are wines that are more mineral, fresh and vibrant that fully express the terroir, without embellishment nor artifice.
16 hectares, in the heart of the Margaux appellation.
Deep gravel on limestone marl
Traditional in concrete and wooden vats, the volumes of which are proportional to the plot
Organic and biodynamic (Demeter and Biodyvin) certified
Third Grand Cru Classé in 1855, Margaux
Fruity nose with notes of blackcurrant, plum, cherry and red berries, accompanied by a floral touch. Mouth full of finesse, fresh, fruity, with a nice acidity.
Our perfect pairing: Duck Honey
confit with honey and grapefruit.
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 65%, Merlot 30%, Cabernet Franc 5%
JAMES SUCKLING 93/100 // THE WINE SPECTATOR 90-93/100 // LE POINT 16.5-17/20 // DECANTER 16+/20
"Claire Villars-Lurton has raised her small Margaux to new heights"
"Great stuff and one I really wanted another glass of"
"Le Château Ferriere se plaît dans la cour des grands Margaux"
"The latest vintages are stunning! The wine tastes so obvious on the palate. Fresh fruit, brilliance... It's a treat."
"Pioneer in biodynamics"
"Claire Villars-Lurton has rised her small Margaux to new herghts"
"Great stuff and one I really wanted another glass of"
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