From the 14th century, the Durfort de Duras family was one of the major landowners in the Médoc. What was once a hunting lodge on their land in Margaux became, during the 17th century, a winegrowing estate of excellence. In 1758, the Château was given to George Ainslie, wine merchant in Scottish wine, whose last daughter married le Chevalier de Vivens. It’s their son, who added his name to Durfort in 1824. Generally considered a 2nd cru since 1745, the estate was naturally classified so in 1855. Château Durfort-Vivens was acquired by Château Margaux of which Léonce Récapet was then the main shareholder. A few years later, a grandson of Léonce, Lucien Lurton, a great winegrower and defender of the Bordeaux terroir, bought the property back. We were then in 1961
FROM FAMILY LEGACY
TO AMBITIOUS PROJECT
In 1992, his son Gonzague, who had always been fascinated by this estate and its immense potential, took the lead of Durfort-Vivens.
He had his own ideas: to chart his own path in search of his own vision:
PURITY, PRECISION,
EXPRESSION OF THE MARGALAIS TERROIR.
Lurton
TOOLS AT THE SERVICE OF THE SINGULARITY OF THE WINE.
AT THE BEGINNING, BIODYNAMICS
His passion for the style of wine led him to do everything possible to ensure that the singularity of the Durfort-Vivens terroir be highlighted. Biodynamics seemed to him to be the best tool and he started in 2009. In 2016, he obtained Bio and Biodynamic certifications. Château Durfort-Vivens became the first Margaux Grand Cru Classé to be doubly certified. The results have been conclusive: not only have the soils regenerated, but the quality of the wines continues to grow in brilliance and precision. And it’s just a step because nature is complex, and its best expression can’t be reduced to a practice.
Lurton
BRINGING DIVERSITY TO LIFE
These agricultural practices have favoured a development of diversity in the flora and fauna within the vineyard; the agroecology and agroforestry approach has enriched and sustained the revival of living soils. This biological diversity in Château Durfort-Vivens’s vineyard helps to express the diversity in its mosaic of terroirs.
