The history of the Chateau du Cros is
closely linked to that of the Guyenne
Province.
In 1196, King Richard ‘the Lionheart’ of
England granted permission for the
building of the “Vieux Château du Cros”.
The Chateau was later partially
destroyed by the French during the
Hundred Years’ War.
Later owners gradually rebuilt it over
the course of many generations. In 1753,
the Château du Cros was sold to Mr
François De La Chassaigne, a direct
descendent of French Renaissance
philosopher Michel de Montaigne. In
1921, François Thévenot, the current
owner’s great-grandfather, acquired the
domain from the Count of La Chassaigne.
The Boyer family – from François
Thévenot to the current owner, Catherine
d’Halluin Boyer – has held the vineyards
for four generations. Catherine
d’Halluin Boyer succeeded her father,
Michael Boyer, in 2004. Today, the
Chateau adheres to the rules set by the
Charte des Vignerons Indépendants.
Catherine, an energetic entrepreneur,
developed an inclusive ‘Bordelais
territory’ gamme comprised of wines from
the three chateaus owned by her family,
which are now all united under the Boyer
family’s banner.
The Loupiac appellation is
located forty kilometres south of
Bordeaux, on the right bank of the
Garonne River. This terroir is truly
odd. Sitting atop one of the highest
hills of the Gironde region, the
limestone-rich soil gives the wine a
particular acidic taste that
distinguishes it from other Bordeaux
wines. The confluence of the Garonne
River and the Ciron River, in front of
the vineyards, creates an important
layer of mist from August to October.
The hills increase the impact of this
mist by holding it on the side of the
Garonne River. These conditions are
ideal for the growth of the famous
“Botrytis Cinerea” mushroom, which
appears as early as August. The mushroom
attacks the chateau’s Loupiac, Sémillon,
Sauvignon, and Muscadelle vines, thereby
forcing their grapes to produce very
fragrant juice.
