“En Primeur” Week Vintage 2024 – Presentation of the Host Châteaux
A few days before the launch of En Primeur Week (14-17 April 2025), Vintage by UGCB is pleased to present the Châteaux that will welcome the thousands of international professionals and journalists who are coming to discover the “En Primeur” 2024 Vintage.
CHÂTEAU GRAND-PUY DUCASSE
Château Grand-Puy Ducasse is a unique estate in the prestigious Pauillac appellation. Its fragmented vineyard spans a patchwork of terroirs, highlighting the diversity of the appellation and producing classy, elegant wines. Furthermore, it is the only estate whose Château, vat rooms and cellar have been located in the heart of the village of Pauillac, on the quayside, overlooking the Gironde Estuary for over 200 years. “In short, it is the most Pauillac of Pauillacs, as one of the most representative and now the only wine fermented in Pauillac itself, opposite the river, for more than two centuries.” Anne Le Naour, Managing Director.
In 1822, Pamela Ducasse (a particularly modern and unconventional name for her time!) married Edouard Duroy de Suduiraut. As a result of this marriage, the Château Grand-Puy Ducasse was adorned with the coat of arms of the Duroy de Suduiraut family: lions and the motto Regis Semper Amici. For more than 200 years now, the Château has embraced this motto with its reference to friendship and, more importantly, to loyalty in friendship, strong values that today still guide our philosophy of pleasure, sharing and friendship: “innovating to promote our heritage and pass on to future generations the pleasure we take in producing a great wine.”
“The Grand-Puy Ducasse Estate was founded in 1675 by Arnaud Ducasse. This year we therefore celebrate the 350th anniversary of its creation. If you combine this anniversary with the inauguration of the Château’s new technical facilities and its opening to the public, it made complete sense that we host the wonderful “En Primeur ” Week this year, for the first time in the Estate’s history!
It is a magnificent showcase: not only to present the technical progress made at the Château to all clients, professionals and buyers of Bordeaux wines, but also to offer them the Grand-Puy Ducasse experience, which is at the service of their own customers. We can now welcome our clients’ customers. Visitors will love our new setting, one of the driving forces for the future of our wines.
CHÂTEAU BALESTARD LA TONNELLE
Nestled in the hills of Saint-Emilion, just a few minutes from the village, Château Balestard La Tonnelle is a wine Estate steeped in history and prestige. This Classified Great Growth, owned by the Capdemourlin family since 1923, stretches over 9 hectares of vines cultivated with passion and exacting standards. Its intriguing name comes from a 15th-century canon, Balestard, and the old stone watchtower, “la tonnelle”, which still watches over the vineyard today. The Estate stands out for its architectural elegance and boasts a panoramic rooftop offering a breathtaking view of the Saint-Emilion vineyards.
Château Balestard La Tonnelle is the only wine in the world to bear a poem on its label! This text, written by 15th-century poet François Villon, is said to have been inspired by the quality of the wine that he tasted during his visit to Saint-Emilion. Rediscovered much later in the village archives, the poem was added to the label as a tribute to the Estate’s history and soul. To this day, the tradition of excellence continues in each vintage, combining ancestral expertise and innovation to produce outstanding wines.
“Taking part in the En Primeur Week as a Host Château is a valuable opportunity for us. This event provides increased visibility on social media platforms in particular, both in France and abroad. It is also a chance to welcome professionals from around the world, some of whom do not yet know Balestard La Tonnelle. They can discover our estate and our facilities, and visit our cellars if they so wish. We are also lucky enough to host international journalists, who can enjoy an immersive experience in our world and learn more about our expertise.
Beyond the professional aspect of the event, it is also a time for socialising. For visitors who choose to have lunch at the Estate, we take pride in welcoming them in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. It is also a great opportunity to engage in enlightening discussions with our fellow winegrowers and to demonstrate our hospitality to both French and international professionals from all over the world.”
CHÂTEAU TALBOT
Legend has it that the Château owes its name to the memory of Constable John Talbot, the famous English military commander who was defeated at the Battle of Castillon in 1453. After having belonged to the Marquis d’Aux family for almost two centuries, the Château was acquired by Désiré Cordier in 1918. Today, Nancy Bignon-Cordier, her husband Jean-Paul and their children, representing the fourth and fifth generations of the family, continue the Talbot legacy.
With its 111-hectare vineyard in the heart of the Saint-Julien appellation, Château Talbot is one of the largest Estates in the Médoc. Ideally located on the banks of the estuary, the vines extend in one single block around the Château on an exceptional terroir of fine gravel on a clay subsoil. Relying on the experience and knowledge of the terroir acquired over more than a century, the estate uses meticulous plot management, applying sustainable viticulture methods respectful of nature. The sole aim is to bring the grapes to optimal maturity in the best possible conditions of health. They are fermented in the traditional way in oak vats, before the wines are aged for 16 months in French oak barrels. The Talbot barrel cellar, a truly unique design, is one of the most prominent examples of wine-making architecture in the Bordeaux region, and above all one of the most original.
Talbot wines are a combination of the past and the future, embodying both a deep respect for tradition and a constant search for innovation. Their elegance means that they can be enjoyed young, with the ability to withstand several decades of ageing thanks to a superb balance. Always characterised by soft, silky tannins, Château Talbot is pleasant and round while young, aromatic and deep when older.
“Château Talbot is probably the most well-known wine in South Korea. This renown is largely due to Guus Hiddink, the Dutch coach of the Korean football team during the 2002 World Cup, who admitted to celebrating the superb and surprising performance of the national team with a glass of Talbot!
Hosting the UGCB En Primeur tastings is a great opportunity to welcome thousands of industry professionals to one’s property. Château Talbot is a strong brand in the world of Bordeaux wines, but while the wine is well-known, it’s not necessarily the case for the estate itself.”
CHÂTEAU GAZIN
The Château Gazin vineyard, former estate of the Knights Hospitaller, covers 26 hectares in a single block, of which 24 hectares of area under vine. Gazin is hence one of the oldest estates of Pomerol. Bordering the vineyards of Château Pétrus and Château l’Evangile, its exceptional clay and gravel soil gives its grape varieties a unique character and signature, typical of a great wine.
The teams at Château Gazin keep a watchful eye on this precious terroir, regularly renewing and restructuring the vineyard to adapt it as best as possible to climatic and environmental challenges. The wine is fermented gently and delicately, in harmony with nature and taking into account the year’s conditions. The men and women at Gazin carefully tend to the wines in the vat room at the heart of the family estate. Château Gazin is certified High Environmental Value (HEV) Level 4. The wine is aged in oak barrels for 14 to 16 months, in 40% to 50% new barrels. Production can reach 100,000 to 120,000 bottles. The wine’s distribution and reputation extend worldwide, and it is sold exclusively on an “En Primeur” (futures) basis through the Bordeaux wine trade.
“It is customary for Château Gazin to participate as a Host Château. We are an open and welcoming Château and are delighted to take an active part in the En Primeur Week. We have always been a place of welcome, given that since its foundation (which was probably in the 12th century), the Château was a place of rest for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. As a family-owned estate, we have a strong sense of hospitality. In terms of visibility, Château Gazin and its employees are proud to be, during the event, a focal point of the appellation for wine professionals from around the world.”
CHÂTEAU KIRWAN
The Château was built in the late 18th century by the illustrious Irish businessman Mark Kirwan. The Godard family acquired Château Kirwan around 1870. They expanded the vineyards and designed beautiful grounds and gardens with a fish pond and rose arbour. Accustomed to selling the estate’s wine at their wine and spirits firm, the Schÿler family, originally from the Hanseatic League and based in Bordeaux since 1739, purchased the estate in 1926. In 2007, family heirs Sophie, Nathalie and Yann Schÿler developed their wine expertise with support from the estate’s managing director, the experienced oenologist Philippe Delfaut. They installed a new vat room in 2015 (featuring 37 cement vats shaped like a tulip) and large contemporary cellar to showcase the terroir and optimise precision winemaking methods.
The year 1855 marked a turning point in the history of Kirwan, with the estate ranked a third great growth in the Médoc appellation. It was also the year when Camille Godard, an emblematic figure of the city of Bordeaux, left his imprint. A botanist and architectural enthusiast, creator of the Parc Bordelais, he transformed Kirwan by renovating the château and designing its majestic grounds, thus bestowing the estate with enduring charm. To this day, the vineyard and grounds are a testament to its stability over time.
“We are pleased to be able to host the En Primeur tastings for several reasons. Firstly, because it is a key period for Bordeaux wines, which are sold on an “En Primeur” (futures) basis. And secondly, because the Host Château is something of a standard-bearer for the appellation: it has a duty to rise to the occasion, which motivates the teams. It gives the 2,000 to 3,000 people who will visit Kirwan the chance to discover the estate. It is also a great opportunity for us to meet with professionals.”
CHÂTEAU LA LOUVIERE
Located in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, just on the outskirts of Bordeaux, Château La Louvière spans over almost 80 hectares of vineyard, of which 67 hectares of red and 13 of white. Set on one of the most renowned gravelly rises of the appellation, the terroir is ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon, the king of grape varieties on these soils. As for Merlot, it flourishes on the clay-gravel areas below, while the Sauvignon Blanc is planted on the most clay-rich zones close to a stream known as Eau Blanche.
Château La Louvière embodies more than seven centuries of winegrowing history. Mentioned as early as 1310 as “La Lobeyra”, the estate takes its name from the wolves that once roamed the forests of Léognan. A modest vineyard already existed at the time, and over the centuries this exceptional terroir has revealed its full potential.
The revival of the Estate began in 1965 when André Lurton, a passionate winegrower, discovered La Louvière and fell in love with it. Won over by its history and character, he decided to devote all his energy to the estate. For almost fifty years, he undertook a major restoration: replanting the vineyard, modernising the facilities, restoring the Château and preserving the authenticity of the place. Thanks to his determination and vision, Château La Louvière gradually regained its former splendour and established itself as an emblem of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, which he also contributed to create 22 years later, in 1987.
The Estate has remained in the family following the death of the great builder in 2019. Today, his children and grandchildren continue his work with passion, ensuring that La Louvière still flourishes while respecting its history and terroir.
Famille André Lurton and Château La Louvière are proud to host the En Primeur tastings this year, an indispensable event in the Bordeaux wines calendar. During this week, the upcoming vintage is presented to buyers and influencers from all over the world. As noted by Mathilde de Caix-Lurton (Managing Director of Vignobles Famille André Lurton): “Hosting En Primeur tastings means opening our doors to people who share our passion: negociants, importers, journalists and customers. It is an opportunity to talk, share and strengthen the bonds that give meaning to our work.”
Being a Host for En Primeur Week is a natural extension of Château La Louvière’s vocation of passing on excellence, forging ties and sharing a passion for wine.
