nce a vast estate in Gallo-Roman times, this traditional old family property situated on the terraces of the Lot valley was ravaged by war thoughout the Middle Ages. It nonetheless managed to survive up until the arrival of Phylloxera in 1878. Edouard Sérougne succeeded in saving some of the Auxerrois vines of the estate and subsequently fell in love with its owner and the grape variety in the 1920s. From 1930 onwards, at a time when the wine region was recovering, he then went on to motivate his few remaining colleagues to found the first union to defend the wines of Cahors. He also became one of the group of 15 who revived the Conférie des vins de Cahors.
The house of the Lamartine estate was built on the site of a hundred year-old oak tree beneath which, according to legend, a beautiful local girl, named Martine, met her lovers. Hence the name Lamartine. Edouard Sérougne, amateur poet, wrote these few lines in witness to this legend :

“Pure, and of good stock
Of Auxerrois, a noble cru,
Like that of the pretty frock
We long for its virtue … “

e Château Lamartine Today...

• At the extreme western edge of the appellation, Château Lamartine stands out on its own. Its micro-climate is influenced by the Atlantic and this, along with the exposure of the vines, means the grapes always ripen early here.
Located on the oldest terraces of the Lot Valley and on its limestone slopes, all 66 acres of our old vines look south and bask in warm sun.
Thanks to a deep root system, these vines can resist scorching summer heat and never lack water. The grapes ripen quickly and low yields ensure that each individual grape has its skin bursting with sweet juice and flavour.

• The estate itself is quite superb, and from the moment you enter, a sense of passion replaces simple curiosity. Situated on one of the best “terroirs”, the soils are cultivated to enable the vines to seek the minerals that are vital for the concentration and complexity of great wines.

• The natural soil life which we defend so vigorously will enable the Auxerrois plants to benefit from a natural balance of micro-organic activity around the root system. Fertilizers are of course strictly forbidden and treatments are reduced to a strict minimum. For aren’t they the enemies of the expression of “terroir” !

• Terroir is an undeniable asset for those who want to be among the leaders. But it is not enough in itself and you also need to show sufficient will and rigour in the vineyard to be attentive to each individual vine during the hot summer periods. As a result, we spend no less that 2,000 man hours green-harvesting to maintain regular and moderate yields.