Château Loubens
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Sainte-Croix-du-Mont's benchmark château — 16th-century heritage, Louis XIII pedigree, and a 70-metre underground cellar carved from fossilized oyster rock.
Château Loubens is one of the oldest and most prestigious estates in the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation, with a recorded history tracing back to the 16th century. Originally the property of a Bordeaux parliamentarian, the château gained distinction when King Louis XIII spent a night there in 1620 following a hunting expedition. The de Sèze family acquired the estate in the 19th century and established its identity as a premier sweet-wine producer. Today, under the stewardship of Arnaud de Sèze, the estate grows Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle on a remarkable terroir of fossilized oyster beds — an ancient seafloor that now forms the bedrock of the vines and contributes exceptional drainage and mineral character to the wines. The estate's cellar is an awe-inspiring underground cathedral carved 70 metres deep into the fossil oyster rock. Multiple manual harvest passes over five to nine weeks select only the finest botrytis-affected berries, yielding wines of extraordinary balance, elegance, and long aging potential. Château Loubens is widely regarded as a benchmark producer of the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation.
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Who Is This For?
Enthusiasts and collectors seeking deeply historical, terroir-driven Bordeaux sweet wines with exceptional aging potential and a compelling story.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How old is Château Loubens?
- The château dates back to the 16th century, when it belonged to a Bordeaux parliamentarian. King Louis XIII famously stopped there for one night in 1620. The de Sèze family took ownership in the 19th century and has been producing wine there since.
- What wines does Château Loubens produce?
- Château Loubens specialises exclusively in botrytized sweet white wines from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle, all grown in the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont AOC on the right bank of the Garonne River.
- What makes the terroir of Château Loubens unique?
- The vineyards sit on a plateau of fossilized oyster beds from the Tertiary period, providing remarkable drainage and a distinctive mineral complexity. The estate's cellar is carved 70 metres into this same fossil oyster rock, forming a natural temperature-stable cathedral for aging wines.
- How should Château Loubens wines be enjoyed?
- The wines pair beautifully with foie gras, blue cheeses such as Roquefort, fresh oysters, and fruit-based desserts. They can be enjoyed young but truly reward patience — the finest vintages develop honey, dried apricot, and beeswax notes over 10 to 20 years of cellaring.
- Is Château Loubens considered a top producer in Sainte-Croix-du-Mont?
- Yes. Château Loubens is widely regarded as the benchmark producer of the appellation, combining the longest history in the region with meticulous viticulture, selective botrytis harvesting, and wines of proven aging potential.