Durfort Vivens (BIO-ORGANIC) - Margaux 2022

Durfort Vivens (BIO-ORGANIC) - Margaux 2022

Gonzague & Claire Lurton Estates, a story of passion

Claire Villars Lurton and Gonzague Lurton are among those people who are driven by their passion. They both come from great Bordeaux winegrowing families: the Merlaut family and the Lurton family. These two forces of nature proudly took over their family estates in the early 90's: Château Durfort Vivens, 2nd Cru Classé in 1855 in Margaux, Château Ferrière, 3rd Cru Classé in 1855 in Margaux, Château Haut-Bages Libéral, 5th Cru Classé in 1855 in Pauillac and Château La Gurgue in Margaux.

In the Bordeaux world of Grands Crus Classés, Claire and Gonzague are pioneers in organic farming, biodynamics and now in agroecology and agroforestry. 
Claire and Gonzague, faithful to their deepest values, always search new practices that are adopted to their soils and allow them to reveal the terroir and to produce living wines; in the end, to produce fine wines that matter.

Château Durfort-Vivens, a pioneering estate that has become a benchmark.

Aroused by the challenge and the property’s potential, Gonzague Lurton asked to inherit Château Durfort-Vivens in 1992. He was driven by the ambition of restoring its rank of Second Growth (Deuxième Grand Cru Classé). He sets himself the further challenge of doing things differently from other Bordeaux châteaux in the 1990s, even if it meant going against what the other renowned estates used to do.  In 2009, he began the conversion to biodynamic viticulture. He was convinced that this approach would allow him to rediscover the potential of the terroir that he had always sought. Over the years, the quality of the wines of Château Durfort-Vivens has gained in brilliance and precision. 

The 62-hectare vineyard of Durfort-Vivens is located in the Margaux appellation. It was the only Grand Cru classé in 1855 to be both certified organic and biodynamic at the same time. To consolidate the status acquired in 1855, Gonzague and Claire are constantly questioning themselves. This has led to the use of amphorae in the ageing process, so much so that today the Durfort Vivens winery has the largest volume of amphorae in the world.

The 2022 vintage

"This vintage surprised us and the analysis we can make now is that strong, gradual water stress and exceptionally hot weather are not limiting the balance and the subtle expression of our terroirs but quite the contrary. Perhaps for the first time, we have two vintages in one. The power, density and length of a great vintage and the brilliance, elegance and energy of a great classic vintage. This wine, which many consider to be the greatest wine made on the estate in living memory, is the finest tribute I could have paid to my father Lucien Lurton, who passed away on March 25th at the age of 97. He bought Durfort-Vivens in 1961, at a very complicated time. It was his first purchase and he always had a special affection for it." Gonzague Lurton