History
For more than three centuries, Château La Cardonne has proudly sat on the highest plateau of the Médoc. From our front steps, we enjoy a panoramic view of the distant horizon, from the Landes forest to the west, to the limestone cliffs on the right side of the Gironde river.
Our wines bear fruit of a unique terroir that generously offers both authenticity and complexity. A true respect for the vines and the soil, coupled with the alliance of tradition and modernity in how we work, and our constant search for optimising what mother nature delivers, allow us to consistently produce the most enjoyable wine that is true to it’s origins.
We’re fortunate to have a team of women and men with years of experience. They are dedicated and meticulous in their work, and although primarily focused on the present, they are always projecting well into future. It’s an important aspect of our work, when the wines we are producing today will improve with age, and may reach their pinnacle in 10-20 years time.
History in timeline
1769 & 1785 Château La Cardonne and the vineyard are visible on Cassini’s first general map of France and also on the map Pierre de Belleyme, King Louis XV’s cartographer.
1850 Château La Cardonne appears in the first edition of ‘‘Féret’’ (BORDEAUX et Ses Vins Ch. Cocks & Éd. Féret)
1932 The first Cru Bourgeois classification for Médoc wines not included in the 1855 Classification of Crus Classés was created by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Chamber of Agriculture in 1932, selecting 444 estates, Château La Cardonne included.
1973 Château La Cardonne is acquired by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), becoming one of the most recognised cru bourgeois wines around the world. During the next 20 years the vineyard underwent intensive restructuring, drainage and replanting, predominantly focused on delivering wines with a true expression of this unique terroir.
1990 La Cardonne wine lover, Guy Charloux makes an offer to buy the vineyard, and then embarks in thoroughly modernising the winemaking facilities. In addition, a spectacular underground cellar, locally known as the ‘Cathedral’ is built, 10 metres below the vines.
2016 Château La Cardonne enters a new era, with ever greater ambitions: the cellars benefit from the latest advanced equipment to allow even greater precision in vinification. A new tasting room with panoramic views across the vineyard adds to the perfect wine lovers experience.