At A Glance
- Fact
- Detail
- Appellations
- Margaux and Haut-Médoc
- Margaux red wine
- Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
- Classification
- Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
- Signature bottle
- Château d’Arsac
- Defining feature
- Vineyard-funded art patronage
The Producer
The Lords of Arsac held this estate in the 12th century, and the current château was built in the 1830s. Philippe Raoux purchased it in 1986, then undertook significant vineyard replanting and restoration of the buildings. Château d’Arsac was classified as Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel in 2020.
Since 1990, a new artwork has joined the collection every year through an original patronage model funded by the vineyard itself.
Place
Château d’Arsac works across Margaux and Haut-Médoc, with most of its acreage in Margaux. The Margaux appellation covers the red blend, while the Haut-Médoc name appears on a separate red bottling under Château d’Arsac.
The site is sandy-gravelly and shaped by the influence of the Gironde estuary. Sandy gravel drains freely, reducing standing water around vine roots, a basic condition that helps red grapes ripen without sitting in wet ground.
Wines
The range has two appellation addresses, Margaux and Haut-Médoc. The Margaux red blend uses 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks, followed by 12 months of ageing in French oak barrels.
Stainless steel is neutral during fermentation, while French oak brings controlled oxygen and wood contact during élevage, which can soften texture and add spice. The Haut-Médoc bottling carries the Château d’Arsac name under the second appellation.
Final Word
Château d’Arsac is a Margaux-focused estate with a Haut-Médoc bottling, sandy-gravelly terroir shaped by Gironde estuary influence, and an art collection funded by vineyard operations.