Château de Carles
シャトー・ド・カルル
A historic Fronsac estate where Montaigne first met La Boétie — now Bordeaux's standout organic producer, awarded Guide Hachette's Vignerons de l'Année 2022.
Château de Carles is a historic estate in Fronsac, Bordeaux, with roots tracing back to the 15th and 16th centuries, when the fortified château belonged to Montaigne's family and witnessed the famous first meeting of Montaigne and La Boétie. Since 1900 the estate has been in the Chastenet de Castaing family. In 1983, Constance Droulers (née Chastenet de Castaing) and her husband Stéphane Droulers took over and transformed it into one of the Right Bank's most respected organic producers. The 20-hectare vineyard is planted to 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec on clay-limestone soils at high vine density of 10,000 vines/ha. The estate has been certified 100% organic and is best known for its flagship cuvée Haut-Carles, created in 1994 to rival the finest wines of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. In 2022, Constance and Stéphane Droulers were named Vignerons de l'Année (Bordeaux) by the Guide Hachette des Vins.
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Who Is This For?
Perfect for Bordeaux lovers who want to discover an underrated Right Bank gem: organic, terroir-driven, and offering Saint-Émilion-level quality at more accessible prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What appellation is Château de Carles in?
- Château de Carles is in the Fronsac appellation, on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, west of Saint-Émilion.
- What grape varieties does Château de Carles grow?
- The 20-hectare vineyard is planted to 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec on clay-limestone soils.
- Is Château de Carles certified organic?
- Yes, the estate practices 100% organic farming and is fully certified organic.
- What is Haut-Carles?
- Haut-Carles is the prestige flagship cuvée of Château de Carles, created in 1994 from the estate's best Merlot parcels. It regularly scores 92–94 points with critics and rivals top Pomerol and Saint-Émilion wines.
- Who owns Château de Carles?
- The estate has been in the Chastenet de Castaing family since 1900. Since 1983 it has been run by Constance Droulers (née Chastenet de Castaing) and her husband Stéphane Droulers, who were named Vignerons de l'Année Bordeaux by Guide Hachette 2022.