The Château Durfort-Vivens is a Domaine nestled in the heart of the Margaux appellation. Its history begins in the 15th century when it was only a hunting lodge belonging to the Durfort de Duras knights, which will become a wine Domaine only from the 17th century. Thomas Jefferson, the US ambassador to France, praised Château Durfort in his travel notes in 1787, ranking it just after Châteaux Lafite, Latour and Margaux. It was not until 1824 that Domaine passed into the hands of the de Vivens family, who thus attached their name to it.
The Château Durfort-Vivens would thus be named as Second Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 classification for the Paris World's Fair.
It was in 1961 that Château was bought by François Lurton, who has since passed the reins to his son Gonzague in 1992. In order to respect the environment and to produce a wine with the purest expression of the fruit, Château Durfort-Vivens will be the first of the Crus Classés of Margaux to be certified in Organic Agriculture as well as in Biodynamic Agriculture. The winery at Domaine is notably renowned for being the largest amphora winery in the world by volume, with the amphora promoting purity of fruit.
Laying on gravel soils facing the Garonne River, the Château vineyard covers 62 hectares of vines, 85% of which are Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot destined for the Grand Vin and Second wine, Relais de Durfort-Vivens. Just under one hectare of vines is planted with white grape varieties, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, used to produce the property's white wine Sec, Durfort-Vivens Blanc de Noir.
The wines of Château Durfort-Vivens are among the finest and most elegant in the Margaux appellation. They are silky, precise and fruit-driven.
