Wines of France / Bordeaux / Bordeaux Supérieur / Château Tour de Mirambeau

Château Tour de Mirambeau - Bordeaux Supérieur and Entre-Deux-Mers

Picture of Naujan-et-Postiac map
Naujan-et-Postiac, Gironde
The Despagne family have owned and grown vines on the Mirambeau site for around 250 years, but Jean-Louis Despagne, along with his wife Odile, was the first to devote himself entirely to winemaking. After graduating in enology from the University of Bordeaux, armed with tips from Emile Peynaud and Jean Ribereau-Gayon, he set out to complete his training on several continents including Africa and South America. After fully satisfying their wanderlust the young couple settled into the ancient windmill on their family’s estate, where they could focus on making wine and raising their kids.
Picture of Thibault Despagne
Today, two of those kids, Thibault and Basaline Despagne, have brought the domaine squarely into the modern arena with a fresh perspective based on a love of wine and passion for their family's ancient terroir. From the original 20 hectares of vines, the estate has gradually increased to its present 88 hectares a short 15-minute drive from St. Emilion. About half of that are devoted to white wines. Michel Rolland is one of the Château's consulting enologists, working with the Despagnes so that the wines reflect the personality of this unique family.
Part of that uniqueness is a true commitment to sustainability, and over the past 20 or so years the family has really upped their game in the lutte raisonée area: they have reduced the amount of conventional treatments used by 80%, they have worked hard to develop the biodiversity in their vineyards, and they are currently practicing biodynamically in some of their parcels. Respect for the land that has been passed down to them as well as a high level of winemaking know-how have made this family domaine a leader in the region.
Picture of group dining and tasting wine
Vinification for the white wines take place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, and the wines remain on their lees until bottling.
Château Tour de Mirambeau Bordeaux Supérieur "Cuvée Passion" White
The more traditional Château Tour de Mirambeau Bordeaux Blanc Grand Vin 2019 is made with 70% sauvignon blanc and 30% semillon, aged in 400 liter oak casks.  A ringer for a white from Pessac-Leognan, this has a nose reminiscent of exotic white fruit, vanilla, and spice.  The palate is round and lively, with a finely mineraled and slightly saline finish.  Try this with baked halibut with a mango sauce, or a Middle-Eastern meal of falafel, baba ghanoush, and hummus.