List of products by brand CHÂTEAU DES MAILLES

Set on the south-facing slopes of Sainte-Croix-du-Mont in the Gironde, Château des Mailles covers 23 hectares of clay-limestone over beds of fossilised oysters, within the Bordeaux appellation. The Larrieu family has tended these vines since 1734 — six unbroken generations — and today Laurence Larrieu leads the château with an all-female team, carrying on the tradition of successive manual harvesting passes across the hillside. At Halles Quercamps, we have selected this château for the rigour of its viticulture, the character of its fossil terroir, and the coherent range it produces across white, red, and rosé. A Bordeaux firmly rooted in its history, yet never constrained by it.

Perched on the hillsides of Sainte-Croix-du-Mont in the Gironde, Château des Mailles embodies a demanding and deeply familial vision of the Bordeaux appellation: 23 hectares of vines, a remarkable fossil terroir, and six generations of the same family's commitment to the land.

A fossil terroir at the heart of the Gironde

The vineyard of Château des Mailles rests on one of the most distinctive soils in the Gironde: a clay-limestone subsoil structured by beds of fossilised oysters, the legacy of an ancient seabed that once covered this part of Aquitaine. This geological particularity lends the wines a natural tension and a mineral freshness that sets them apart from many of their Bordeaux neighbours. The vines face due south on a steep hillside, benefiting from maximum sun exposure throughout the growing season — a natural advantage that promotes full, even ripening while the fossil subsoil retains just enough freshness to preserve the wines' balance and length.

Six generations of the Larrieu family

Few properties in Bordeaux can claim such continuity of ownership. The Larrieu family has been at the helm of Château des Mailles since 1734 — nearly three centuries of accumulated knowledge of this particular hillside, its soils, its microclimates, and its rhythms. Today, Laurence Larrieu directs the château with an entirely female team, a quiet statement of confidence in craft over convention. The harvest is carried out entirely by hand, with successive passes through the vineyard — tries successives — to select only grapes at their optimum ripeness. This labour-intensive approach, rarely practised on this scale, reflects the château's broader philosophy: patience and precision over volume and convenience.

Viticulture and winemaking

The 23-hectare estate is planted with the classic Bordeaux grape varieties: Sémillon, Sauvignon, and Muscadelle for the whites, and Merlot and Cabernet Franc for the reds and rosé. The south-facing exposure and the well-drained fossil clay-limestone soils encourage natural balance in the canopy and measured yields, with the team intervening in the vineyard throughout the year to ensure vine health and fruit quality. The winemaking approach at Château des Mailles is guided by respect for the terroir: the aim is always to let the character of the fossil soils and the south-facing hillside speak clearly in the glass.

The wine range

  • Bordeaux Blanc — Sémillon, Sauvignon, and Muscadelle; fresh and mineral, with the characteristic tension of the fossil terroir.
  • Bordeaux Rouge — Merlot and Cabernet Franc; structured yet approachable, with the warmth of the south-facing hillside.
  • Bordeaux Rosé — Elegant and precise, reflecting the same care in the vineyard as the estate's other colours.

Why we have selected Château des Mailles

At Halles Quercamps, we have listed Château des Mailles for three reasons that matter to us as merchants. First, the terroir is genuinely singular: fossilised oyster beds beneath clay-limestone on a south-facing hillside are not something you encounter across Bordeaux, and that geological identity comes through in the wines. Second, the commitment to successive manual harvesting passes is a mark of real seriousness — it is the kind of decision that costs time and money but makes a tangible difference in the glass. Third, the continuity of the Larrieu family since 1734 is not merely a heritage story: it means six generations of accumulated knowledge of a single hillside, and that shows in the consistency and character of the range. We recommend these wines to confirmed Bordeaux enthusiasts who appreciate terroir-driven wines over branded blends, and to those building a cellar with an eye for value and authenticity. The whites pair beautifully with seafood and river fish; the reds are well suited to lamb, duck, and soft cheeses from the South-West.

Discover all wines from Château des Mailles

Browse the full range of whites, reds, and rosés from Château des Mailles in our selection below, and find the bottles best suited to your cellar or your table.

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