La Couspaude was known as La Croix Paute in the Middle Ages, taking its name from the cross which stands at the intersection of the roads bordering the eastern entrance to the estate. It is thought that this cross marked one of the numerous stops along the pilgrim road to Saintiago de Compostela, and it is certain that the Saint-Emilion refuge, located in the monolithic church, was a regular stopover.

At this time, La Croix Paute was part of the Condat and Barbanne seigneurie belonging to the King of England, who was also Duke of Aquitaine. At the end of the Hundred Years War, it was taken over by the French monarchy, who gave it to several different owners as a feudal privilege.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the estate was mainly managed by aldermen from the nearby city of Libourne. The archives from this period, however, do not mention of the presence of vines.

It was not until 1739 when André-François Le Berthon, Lord of Aiguilhe and First president of the Bordeaux Parliament, sold La Croix Paute to Mathieu Fontémoing, a wealthy Libourne merchant, that any record exists of a vineyard at La Croix Paute.

This sale is symbolic of the winegrowing reality during the ancien regime during which the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie were in competition as regards ownership of Bordeaux's finest vineyards.

During this period, many people of great regional importance owned La Croix Paute: de Pontac, de Lalanne, de Calvimont, Le Berthon and Fontémoing to name but a few.

Throughout the 1800s, the chateau often changed hands, and the wine was unfortunately no longer worthy of its reputation by the end of the century.
The estate was sold for 500,000 francs to Alphonse Této in 1891, and to Jean-Prosper Robin in 1908 for... 43,750 francs.

 

A FAMYLY COMMITMENT - BACKGROUND - THE TERROIR

THE VINEYARD - WINEMAKING - AGEING

 

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