Château Arricaud is an estate in Landiras, north east of the village, in the Graves region on Bordeaux’s left bank. Wines are made under the Graves AOC.

Owner: Bouyx family [Isabelle Labarthe].

Background: Albert Bouyx died in 1996. Modesty kept hm from the limelight, for he sensed perhaps that his brilliant empirical mind was seen as a threat by the more defensive Bordelais proprietors. He helped solve a problem Peter Vinding-Diers had with a Tokaji essencia wine. Bouyx was one of the first in Bordeaux to encounter a powder called DF100 which is made from grapefruit pips. This is used in medical science as an antibacterial aid. Grapefruit trees growing on the west coast of America are rarely susceptible to fungal attack (farmers there do not suffer from athlete’s foot). Perhaps this is due to an enzyme. Eventually, DF100 could partially replace sulphur dioxide in wine. This would benefit sweet white wines in particular, which require the most sulphur. As yet, DF100 imparts a petrolly note when used in wine, and scientists at the University of Bordeaux are trying to find out why. Bouyx’s most ready and accessible legacy are his dry white wines. Even examples made during moderate vintages in the 1960s are only just reaching their peak. They are so simple in their structure, but daunting in their capacity to regenerate the palate. Bordeaux under-estimated Bouyx, and is ignoring the style of dry white wine he favoured.

Vineyards: Overlooking the Garonne valley from the south of Barsac. Mid-1990s Red grapes  Cabernet Sauvignon: 65%. Malbec: 5%. Merlot: 30% White grapes Muscadelle: 5%. Sauvignon Blanc: 25% Semillon: 70%.

Contact

Château d’Arricaud

F-33650 Landiras (Gironde), France

Tel+33 (0)5.56.62.51.29