At Mille Roses, we are rather well surrounded. Surrounded, but not overshadowed, we should make that clear. Deep down, whatever our size, we all feel the same thrill and share the same winegrower's anxieties.

It is a stroke of luck to be set right against certain classed growths, which produce finely chiselled wines thanks to expertise and terroirs very much like our own. And Mille Roses is not the only small vineyard living in this setting. Clos du Jaugueyron and Château des Graviers, both certified organic, are family properties run by passionate winegrowers. There, clearly, we are talking about wines with strong identity and strong commitment.

Our neighbours? Classed growths of 1855

The vines of Château Mille Roses are spread across several plots, mainly in the communes of Arsac, Macau and Labarde, emblematic areas of the Margaux appellation and of the southern Haut-Médoc.

Right nearby are several prestigious estates classified in 1855. Among them, Château Lascombes, second classed growth of Margaux, known for its rich and powerful wines, but also Château Palmer and, of course, Château Margaux.

Château Giscours, third classed growth, is one of our most remarkable neighbours. Its wines are often cited as models of balance between concentration and elegance. Our land directly adjoins some of their plots.

Château Cantenac Brown, third classed growth, has just built a quite fabulous vat room and cellar, with the ambition of becoming a must of the Haut-Médoc. Château Prieuré-Lichine, fourth classed growth, along with Château Dauzac and Château du Tertre, fifth classed growths, also contribute to the reputation of the area. Not forgetting, at Labarde, Château Siran.

Further south, Château Mille Roses lies not far from Château La Lagune, third classed growth. There are also Château Cantemerle and Château Belgrave, two fifth classed growths recognised for their consistency and their fine ageing potential. Château Cantemerle is our neighbour to the south, so to speak. There again, the property has just completed a new vat room and barrel cellar that are absolutely worth visiting. I do believe Sophie and I were the first visitors, in September 2025, with a couple of Czech friends.

This exceptional concentration of prestigious properties says a great deal about the intrinsic quality of the terroirs we are planted on.

A shared terroir, shaped by the Garonne

The main thing Château Mille Roses has in common with its illustrious neighbours is the nature of the terroir. All these estates sit on the famous gravel rises of the Médoc.

These soils formed during the glacial and interglacial periods of the Quaternary. The movements of the Garonne laid down, layer after layer, gravels made of pebbles, grit, sand and sometimes clay. Those materials are today one of the fundamental riches of the Médoc vineyard.

Why do gravel soils make the great wines of the Médoc?

For three reasons. They provide very effective natural drainage: rainwater runs down to the deeper layers and avoids any excess moisture around the roots. The pebbles store the sun's heat during the day and release it at night, which encourages steady ripening, precious for Cabernet Sauvignon. Finally, these poor soils force the vine to send its roots deep in search of water and nutrients, which limits yields and concentrates the aromas in the berries.

At Mille Roses, our Haut-Médoc terroirs are made of finer gravels over deep soils. Our two Margaux plots sit on coarser gravels and black sands, all over a subsoil of yellow clay. So we share with our neighbours the same geological foundations, the ones that give the Médoc its worldwide reputation.

Cabernet Sauvignon, king of the Left Bank

This similarity of terroir also explains the leading place of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blends of the neighbouring properties.

Despite the difficulty, at times, of reaching perfect ripeness with this variety, we remain convinced it has everything it takes to make a great wine. So we have been increasing its proportion for 25 years, through our planting choices as much as our blending choices.

Why does Cabernet Sauvignon dominate the Left Bank?

Because it finds in the gravels of the Médoc the ideal conditions to ripen fully. It gives the wines their tannic structure, their ageing ability and their characteristic aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar and sometimes graphite. Merlot often comes in alongside for roundness, suppleness and indulgence. Petit Verdot, in smaller proportions, reinforces colour, aromatic complexity and freshness.

We also carry a winegrower's expertise. And despite our differences in approach, we share with our prestigious, and friendly, neighbours the same philosophy: seeking a harmonious balance between these varieties in order to express the character of the terroir as well as possible.

A shared Médoc identity on the palate

After more than 25 years of winemaking in the Médoc, at the head of this small 10-hectare vineyard, I can measure the remarkable balance between power and freshness in the wines of our terroirs. The tannic structure is very much there, but never excessive. It is that architecture that lets them develop well over many years in bottle.

Black fruit aromas are another shared trait. Blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry and plum often dominate the wines in their youth. With time come more complex notes of undergrowth, light tobacco, cedar, fine leather and sweet spices.

Complexity sometimes also comes through more herbaceous aromas, even cooked vegetables. As long as it does not dominate, it is one more surprise as the tasting goes on. Because a glass is never frozen in time: oxygen quickly transforms the wine and draws out a whole host of aromatic registers.

Freshness remains an essential marker. Despite their concentration, the wines of the Médoc keep a fine tension that avoids any heaviness. That is largely what makes them work at table. Nothing is worse than a heavy wine that does not quench your thirst and takes the place of the dish by feeding you far too much. Long live that fresh balance which made Bordeaux's name for centuries.

Elegance, finally, remains a cardinal value of these terroirs. Even the most powerful wines here seek finesse rather than a show of strength.

A small home-made map will help you place us in the southern Médoc, somewhere between Château Cantemerle and Château Giscours, our most illustrious neighbours.