Winery Overview
Chateau de Mercues is a genuine haven of peace in a sacred setting, overlooking the Lot Valley, dazzling in its superb beauty. Chateau de Mercues is an iconic historic monument in the Cahors region with one of the most remarkable heritages in Occitania. The lush green setting of the Chateau takes you on a sensory voyage, bathed in tranquility and serenity. In 1959, Georges Hereil, the owner at the time and a captain of industry under General de Gaulle, opened up the Chateau de Mercues to guests. Awarded four stars, it joined the influential circle of the very first Relais & Chateaux. The Chateau became an unmissable, exclusive, intimate destination -a rare example from the medieval period. For several centuries the Chateau de Mercues was the summer residence of the powerful Counts and Bishops of Cahors, such as the famous Monseigneur Grimardias, who turned it into an exceptional boating destination, adding splendid terraces, hanging gardens and verdant orchards. The Lot Valley near Cahors, between the wild Causse limestone plateau and the meanders of the river, is a treasure trove of flavors: black truffles, saffron, foie gras, free range lamb...A land abundant in exceptional produce, the birthplace of the Malbec grape, long associated with its intense aromas. Cahors is a unique, multi-faceted appellation that expresses its full potential here, a sign of the strength of this terroir. Malbec is much more than a grape variety, it’s a state of mind, a philosophy vibrant with life, giving the Chateau de Mercues its unique color. See life in “Malbec colors”, a blend of authenticity and excellence. The vineyard at Chateau de Mercues are worked with great respect, and the estate’s High Environmental Values result in a faithful interpretation of the terroir. Representing the fourth generation, Bertrand-Gabriel Vigouroux, a true aesthete and Malbec expert, broke with local tradition by introducing high density cultivation (up to 6,666 vines per hectare). This technique involves growing a high number of vines per hectare to create hydric stress. The grapes are selected, distributed vat by vat, plot by plot, pumped over for a long time to extract the best tannins, and then matured in amphora and barrels to produce the quintessence of French Malbec.