Château Malartic-Lagravière

The estate has been owned by the Bonnie family since 1997. Belgian entrepreneurs Michèle and Alfred-Alexandre Bonnie purchased the château and initiated an ambitious modernisation programme. Today, their children Véronique Bonnie and Jean-Jacques Bonnie are actively involved in the day-to-day management. Véronique oversees marketing and strategy, while Jean-Jacques handles technical direction alongside estate director Bruno Eynard, formerly of Château Lagrange in Saint-Julien. Their leadership has brought international attention and a consistent stylistic identity to Malartic-Lagravière’s wines.

The château dates back to the 18th century and takes its name from Count Hippolyte de Maurès de Malartic, an admiral who distinguished himself in the service of the French Crown. In the 19th century, the estate was known for producing high-quality wines, but it fell into a period of decline during the 20th century. The major turning point came with its acquisition by the Bonnie family in the late 1990s, who invested heavily in vineyard renewal, cellar modernisation, and precision viticulture. Under their stewardship, the wines have gained a reputation for clarity and finesse.

Château Malartic-Lagravière is located in Léognan, around 15 km south of Bordeaux city, in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation. This part of Graves is known for its deep gravel ridges and proximity to pine forests that help regulate microclimates. The estate lies within one of the best terroirs of the appellation, adjacent to prestigious neighbours such as Domaine de Chevalier and Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Its vineyards benefit from good drainage and a temperate maritime climate, suitable for both red and white Bordeaux varieties.

The estate covers around 73 hectares, of which 66 hectares are planted to vines—55 hectares dedicated to red varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot) and 11 hectares to white (Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon). The gravel soils, with clay-limestone subsoils, provide excellent conditions for ripening and drainage. Vineyard management follows a sustainable philosophy, with increasing attention to organic practices and precision viticulture. The team employs detailed parcel-by-parcel analysis and hand-harvesting to ensure optimal ripeness and balance.

Malartic-Lagravière is known for its state-of-the-art gravity-flow winery, built in the early 2000s. The winemaking process is highly tailored to each parcel, with fermentation carried out in temperature-controlled stainless steel and oak vats. The wines are aged in French oak barrels (approximately 50–70% new, depending on the vintage) for around 18 months. Red wines are typically elegant, structured, and marked by fresh acidity and minerality, while the whites are known for their aromatic precision, tension, and ageing potential. The estate philosophy emphasises balance, finesse, and expression of terroir.

The flagship wines are the red and white Château Malartic-Lagravière. The red typically blends Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, offering notes of dark fruit, graphite, and spice with a long, refined finish. The white, usually a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, is consistently ranked among the top white Bordeaux wines, prized for its freshness, complexity, and capacity to age. The second wine, La Réserve de Malartic, is made with the same care and offers approachability in youth. In select vintages, the château produces a limited "Cuvée des Étoiles" from exceptional parcels.

Château Malartic-Lagravière welcomes visitors by appointment and offers a range of tours tailored to different interests, including vineyard walks, cellar visits, and guided tastings. Experiences can be customised to focus on either red or white wines, and may include food pairings or vertical tastings. The château also occasionally hosts events and seminars exploring Bordeaux terroirs and sustainable viticulture. With its modern facilities and welcoming hospitality, Malartic-Lagravière provides an educational and enjoyable visit in the Pessac-Léognan area.