Chateau d'Agassac Haut Medoc 2000

Agassac first came to light in the 13th century, built on a marshy plain bordered by a stream, which runs through the estate to the edge of the grounds where a clump of pine trees grows. The original curtain wall of its facade was machicolated and crenellated, although these features disappeared during subsequent alterations. In the 16th century, the chateau was the subject of a "renaissance" and two additions in the shape of its new defensive towers, built to stand out beyond the existing wall line… although only one remains today. The 20th century was drawing to a close when the estate was acquired by the insurance company Groupama. In good viticultural tradition, the vineyard and winery areas were the first to be modernised. With a past history of biding its time, the chateau was renovated later and has now been restored to its former glory.

The estate’s two greatest assets lie in the quality of its terroir (its total natural environment) and in its precious stock of old vines. The terroir, with its warm soils made up of deep, well-drained gravels and copious amounts of sunshine, is distinguished by its early-maturing character and Agassac is often the first estate in the area to begin harvesting. The vineyards, made up of two enclosed areas totalling 42 hectares, is essentially made up of long-established vines – an average of 40 years old for 22 hectares of it – that constitute the qualitative heart of production. Since 1997, the course of matters has shifted with the uprooting of several less-valuable plots and the planting of Cabernet vines in the best and hitherto unexploited gravel soils. In the light of these changes, the vineyard currently comprises 50% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc.