Our Growers:

Alain Gayraud

Chateau Lamartine

Chateau Lamartine has been a family property since ancient times. A part of a very big domaine of the Gallo-Roman era, it underwent the ravages of war during the Middle Ages and managed to survive until the Phylloxera attacks of 1878. A few Auxerrois plants were saved from Phylloxera and Edouard Sérougne, small in size but big in courage and persistence, fell in love with the proprietress of the domaine as well as the vines and married her in 1922. Their daughter, Carmen, and her husband, Adrien Gayraud, eventually toook over the domaine, which they eventually handed over to their son, Alain Gayraud.

The name of the domaine comes from La Martine (as it was spelled in earlier times). The home of the owner was built where a century-old oak tree once stood; legend has it that it was the spot where the beautiful Martine had amorous rendezvous.

The domaine's 28 hectares of old vines are situated on the most ancient of the terraces in the valley of the Lot and on its stony slopes. They have a full southern exposure. The micro-climate is susceptible to Atlantic Ocean influences which make for precocious maturity of the grapes. With their very deep roots, the vines can support torrid summer weather without ever suffering from drought.

Chateau Lamartine "Expression" The grapes in this wine are 100% Auxerrois from the Cahors appellation and are raised on old vines in a clay-limestone soil. The parcel itself has been used for more than 200 years for the growing of grapes. The wine is macerated for 35 days, with alternating pigeage and délestage. It is aged totally in new oak barrels for 20 months. The wine is then blended from different barrels to obtain the most magnificent expression of the terroir as well as the Lamartine style. Aromas of morello cherry and chocolate in a powerful structure full of finesse and elegance characterize this wine.

Chateau Lamartine "Cahors": The grapes in this wine are 90% Auxerrois and 10% Merlot from the Cahors appellation. The vines are 20 to 35 years old. The wine is aged in cement vats until the following spring, when 15% of the juice by volume is put in oak casks and 15% in very large oak casks. The wine is bottled the following spring, 18 months after the harvest. The wine is bright red in color with a lightly wooded taste highlighted by notes of licorice and small red fruits. It has a pleasant but sharp taste that goes well with hearty red meats.

Chateau Lamartine Benjamin: The grapes in this wine are 80% Malbec and 20% Merlot from vines which are 30 years old. The wine is aged in cement vats until the following spring and then 15% of it is put in small oak barrels for 12 months and 15% in large oak barrels for 12 months. It is bottled in the spring, 18 months after the harvest. This wine has a beautiful robe of bigarreau cherry.. It has a surprisingly complex nose of a light wood smoke with a hint of licorice and little red smashed fruits. In the mouth, the taste is strong but not harsh. The wine goes well with hardy meats.

Website: http://www.expressions-terroir.com/