Château Majoureau

Property in Cotes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire to follow

Château Majoureau is a small family property located on the hills overlooking the Garonne in Bordeaux Supérieur well as AOP Côtes de Bordeaux Saint-Macaire.

The property was founded in 1870 as a farm with 1,5 acres surrounding the hostel (the current home) and is on the hillsides. At this time the vine was not present on this property. The breeding, fruit farming and the cultivation of cereals comprised the main part of the economy of this area. Grape production wasn’t intended for wine under the label of the property but the berries were sold to the cooperative of Saint-Pierre.

It was not until the early 1980s that the mother and father of Mathieu Delong (the current owner and winemaker) transformed polyculture conducted into 100% in the vineyard operating. In 1981, there appeared the first bottle of « Château Majoureau » due in part to the need to sell directly to recover a portion of the shortfall owed to the 95% loss of production that year (high hail).

In 2002 Mathieu Delong arrived on the property to succeed his father with the primary objective and the desire to produce his own wine.

Actually the property is spread over 38 hectares, grows seven different grapes and produces five different wines grouped into three brands: Chateau Majoureau, Hyppos de Château Majoureau and Loustalet du Château Majoureau.

Aside: on arrival you will be dazzled by a breathtaking view of the valley … a haven of peace and nature.

Quick focus on Mathieu Delong, owner of the Château Majoureau

Despite the fact that he is the son of the winemaker and he grew up on the property, it has not been the obvious for Mathieu Delong. He became its winemaker round and continue the work of his parents. Being younger, he repeatedly asked about how the business is run. Seduced on the one hand by the attraction of his first love archeology, history, and on the other hand by the desire to work in a sector that is in relationship with nature, are swinging heart.

This was after an internship at the National Forest Office (ONF) that he decided to choose the option of nature and turn to wine, which was also a passion for him. What he especially liked in this business is the ability to enhance a natural product with his name on the label.

He then left to study in school at Château La Tour Blanche (Sauternes) and an internship in California. During this stay in America he was arrested by the branding and identity management of Californian Wineries. When he came back to France he took over for his father and decided to apply to Chateau Majoureau what he had learned during his time overseas. There are different data vintages (labels and name) as well as the range of wine Château Majoureau.

For you (Mathieu Delong) if we wanted to define Chateau Majoureau a few key words, which would you choose?

« Artisanal » wine production, in a homestead is an artisanal production. Especially this is the same person who works the vineyard and vinified book.

« Close » To understand this word it will read the story which is lower in the article.

« Excellence » is explained by the fact that Mathieu Delong « try every year to improve the quality, finesse and balance » of its wines.

« Independence« : Being your own boss can allow you to decide each year what the wines look like, their joints etc …

Where did the name « Chateau Majoureau » and « Hyppos » come from?

« Majoureau » is the name of the locality where the farm is located. It is derived from the old Béarn meaning « Major herd. » That is for say where the house ‘chef’ herd was. In fact for a long time guards lamb herd came from Béarn with their flocks in the winter transhumance. It would appear that we owe the tradition of Pauillac lamb to the famous transhumance béarnaise.

Regarding the name of the « Hyppos » du Château Majoureau, Mathieu Delong chose to pay tribute to the founding parents vineyard. « Hyppos » is the diminutive of the word « hippocampus. » This is the perfect combination of passion from his father and mother, respectively, the sea and the horse.

What is sought each year during the winemaking Chateau Majoureau?

For sweet wines Mathieu Delong searched power of the fruit rather than large doses of sugar. The result leaves foremost not to be considered as a sweet, but mellow. « The fruit must speak before sugar. It should be that there is no aromatic deviance. I want my wines to have a fruity elegant frame, and fresh. »

Regarding the red wines, they are assembled with a large majority of Merlot which should therefore keep all its features. « The fruit, roundness and flexibility are my motto for my reds. As a result, according to the labels I search different types of woodland but still slightly woody. My wines never age to 100% in barrels. »

Side stories:

Mathieu Delong sells most of these wines live circuit. That is to say, he makes himself deliveries throughout France (and neighboring countries) or nearly 100.000km per year.