Winery Overview
Chateau de Haute-Serre sits at an altitude of 300 metres, on the high plateau between the Parc Regional des Causses du Quercy and Cahors. The 60 hectares of high density vines are nourished by the singularity of the siderolithic Kimmeridgian clay-limestone soil enriched with blue clay and iron concretions. A haven of biodiversity, the exceptional terroir of Chateau de Haute-Serre gives rise to atypical and racy wines, driven by a remarkable freshness and adorned with chiseled silky tannins. Chateau de Haute-Serre, the Vigouroux family home, is an illustration of the Malbec way of life: between conviviality and the pursuit of excellence. Originally owned by the Abbey of Lagarde Dieu in Tarn-et-Garonne, the vineyard covered almost 1000 hectares. Sold in 1578, the estate was then invested and occupied by Geron Dadine, the valiant protector of the Christ's "Sainte Coiffe" during the sacking of the Cahors Cathedral. Without ever losing sight of its winegrowing vocation, generations of men have succeeded one another at Haute-Serre, all attached to their roots and to the defense of their territory, like the stubborn Gallic resistance fighter, Lucter, or more recently, the visionary Georges Vigouroux. In, 1971, when the Cahors AOC was created, he believed in the potential of this place to rebuild the vineyard as it used to be. The locals were a bit skeptical but in 1975, the first vintage was born. In this spirit, with passion, and for more than fifty years, the Vigouroux family now led by Bertrand-Gabriel, winemaker and Malbec-Expert, has been committed to sublimate this "work of Nature" and has never ceased to enhance this exceptional terroir. During the Middle Ages only vines and sheep inhabited the high plateau due to its unsuitability for arable farming. The vineyards were completely decimated by Phylloxera at the end of the 19th century and nature reclaimed the entire area. The success of the vineyards today bears witness to the purity of the terroir and the eco-pastoral heritage of this part of the appellation. Bertrand-Gabriel Vigouroux has his heart set on maintaining and developing the biodiversity in his vineyards, as well as reducing his carbon footprint. He believes in a sustainable management of his lands. The enrichment of the vineyard with olive trees, truffle oaks, barley fields and the fallowing of certain plots, combined with the achievement of HVE 3 certification, reflect a real effort to preserve the vineyard's ecosystem in order to keep Haute-Serre alive and fertile.