Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Château Soutard came into being in 1513 with the mention of the Bourdieu de Mayne de Soutard, a gascon estate including farm and mill. The name Soutard would come from an English family. It was only in 1699 that Jean Couture, Jurat de Saint-Émilion, acquired the property. His daughter, Mary, had the present castle erected in 1741, whose eighteenth century façade and bellow wings (XVI century) still remain. The wine vocation is defined under Jean Combret de Faurie, son of Mary, who modernises the vines by planting them in rows, an innovation for the time when they were growing in crowds in an anarchic way.

Jean Lavau, an influential owner, then developed the estate before its transmission in 1919 to Michel des Ligneris, whose family led it for nearly a century. In 2006, the AG2R La Mondiale group, already owner of nearby castles like Larmande, bought Soutard. The estate has been listed as a historic monument since 2015, protecting its facades, commons, old cellars, park and alleyways.

The 30-hectare vineyard, located on an iconic argilo-calcary plateau of Saint-Émilion, mainly cultivates merlot (63%), supplemented by cabernet-franc, cabernet-sauvignon and malbec. Conducted in uncertified organic farming, it perpetuates a wine tradition initiated in the 18th century. The terroir is divided between plateau (70%), clay slopes (17%) and sandy coast feet (13%), reflecting local geological diversity.

The architecture of the castle combines classical elegance (body of 18th-century houses) and utility elements (wheeled wings), typical of Bordeaux estates. The historical cellars, partially protected, bear witness to the evolution of winemaking techniques. The park and its aisles, registered with the estate, underline the landscape importance of the site, between built and natural heritage.

The 2015 protection covers the entire estate, with the exception of modern parts, including the lower yard, commons and portals. This official recognition enshrines Soutard as a representative example of the great wines of Saint-Émilion, combining architectural history and wine-making excellence. The castle remains today a private property, open to visit in the context of oenotourism activities.

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