Château de la Coste Born From Six Generations of Excellence in Margaux
Château de La Coste is the second wine of Château Paveil de Luze, which is classified as a Cru Bourgeois and is one of the oldest properties in Bordeaux’s Médoc region. Located in the small town of Soussans, in the heart of the celebrated Margaux appellation, the estate stands proudly, with two towers rising above a magnificent 32-hectare / 79-acre vineyard. Château de La Coste is crafted with cabernet sauvignon and merlot grown on these prized vines.
Château Paveil de Luze dates to the 17th century and belonged to the Lords of Bretonneau until the 18th century. In 1862, Baron Alfred de Luze purchased the estate and made its wines known throughout the world. Since then, six generations of the de Luze family have cared for the estate, weathering storms both figurative and literal. After the Siberian winter of 1956 destroyed most of the vines, Baron Geoffroy de Luze replanted the vineyard and renovated the cellar, laying the foundation for the estate’s present-day success.
After taking over from their father in recent years, Marguerite and Catherine de Luze represent the sixth generation to oversee Château Paveil de Luze. They work alongside winemaker Stéphane Fort and his daughter Mélanie. A rich heritage and profound feeling of belonging to the property bind them in the work, making Château Paveil de Luze’s story a true family saga.
As this generation sets its sights on sustainability and the quest for ever-increasing quality, enthusiasts can be assured that Château Paveil de Luze will continue to produce beautifully elegant, terroir-driven wines, like Château de La Coste, for years to come.
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Founded
1862 -
Location
Margaux, Bordeaux, France
Terroir
One of Bordeaux’s most prestigious appellations, Margaux boasts 21 châteaux with classified growth status. The region is known for elegant, delicate, and fragrant wines, thanks to its temperate oceanic climate (which allows for a slow ripening of the grapes and thus increases complexity in the wines) and quality, well-draining soils (key to keeping vines healthy and producing concentrated grapes).
Château Paveil de Luze and the vineyard that yields Château de La Coste lie in the northern part of Margaux. The vineyard enjoys an ideal east / west exposure, which provides the grapes with ample sunlight to ripen. A soil and subsoil of deep gravel ensures natural drainage and results in greater finesse in the wines.
Viticulture
Château de La Coste is crafted using selected fruit from young vines grown in the magnificent vineyard surrounding Château Paveil de Luze. Located in the heart of Margaux, the vineyard spans 32 hectares / 79 acres, and the average vine age is 30 years old. Leaf thinning occurs twice during the growing season — in July (for the side of the vines least exposed to the sun) and in August (for the most exposed side) — to encourage even ripening and improve air circulation. The team also practices green harvesting, which helps the remaining fruit develop more concentration, and harvests all grapes by hand.
The vineyard team has great respect for the estate’s remarkable terroir. They use sustainable cultivation, water management, soil decompaction, and other practices to help protect the natural environment.
Château de La Coste Winemaking Practices
After harvest, the cabernet sauvignon and merlot grapes are sorted and destalked at the winery. Maceration takes place for 48 hours, followed by alcoholic fermentation in stainless steel vats for 21 days. As the finishing touch, the wine ages in oak barrels (30% new) for 12 months, which imparts soft tannins and notes of sandalwood to the primary flavors of black fruits and cassis
