Château Lagrézette

Château Lagrézette (or Château de La Grézette) is an ancient fortified house near the River Lot in Caillac in the Lot department in south-western France.

Château Lagrézette, May 2011
Château Lagrézette cru d’exception 2003

Origins

The site was the location of a twelfth-century fortified house, and the local vineyard was held in high regard as early as the seventh century.[1] The château itself was built by Pierre de Massault in the fifteenth century and was owned by many eminent families over the centuries, but fell into disrepair in recent years.[1]

Restoration

The ruin was purchased in 1980 by Alain-Dominique Perrin, who was president of Cartier SA from 1975 to 1988.[2] It was listed as a historical monument (Monument historique) in the Base Mérimée on 21 October 1982[3] and the buildings have been completely restored. The main building is flanked by two round towers[3] and the architectural style blends traditional mediaeval sturdy design with more elegant Renaissance decoration.[1]

Perrin has also brought the vineyard, which is the oldest vineyard in southwest France,[2] back into production, working with oenologist and consultant Michel Rolland and soil microbiologist Claude Bourguignon[4] to produce wine from the Malbec grape variety.[1] The Château Lagrézette wine Le Pigeonnier (100% Malbec[4]) was voted as one of the best 100 wines by Wine Spectator magazine in 2005.[2][5]

The château has entertained a number of eminent visitors in recent years. In 1984 Perrin founded the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, and guests have included the sculptor César Baldaccini, painters Robert Combas and Jean-Charles Blais, photographer Herb Ritts, as well as Elton John, Helmut Newton, Lou Reed, Dennis Hopper, Wim Wenders and David Lynch. British Prime Minister Tony Blair stayed at the château in 2002.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Chateau Lagrezette". Domaine de Lagrézette. 1997–2008. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  2. Maria Walsh (March 2011). "A Fine Appreciation". Glass Magazine. London: 203. ISSN 2041-6318.
  3. "Monuments historiques: Château de la Grézette". Mérimée (Ministère de la culture, France). 1992. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  4. Denis Savebot (February 2008). "Alain-Dominique Perrin: " Les bordeaux à 400 euros, attention ! Cela s'arrêtera un jour "" (PDF). La Revue du Vin de France. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  5. Bruce Sanderson (Dec 2005 – Jan 2006). "The Top 100 – Our annual roundup of the year's most exciting wines" (PDF). Wine Spectator. Retrieved 20 April 2011.

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