2010 · Château Coufran

Château Coufran is a family-owned Haut-Médoc estate in Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, north of the appellation near the Gironde estuary. Owned by the Miailhe family since 1924, it is now run by Eric Miailhe and Marie-Cécile Vicaire. The estate is notable for its unusually Merlot-led vineyard and blend for the Médoc, a style established when Louis Miailhe replanted the property predominantly to Merlot; the wine has been called the “Pomerol of the Médoc.” The vines grow on gravel and clay soils in a contiguous vineyard, with an average vine age of around 50 years. Château Coufran focuses on traditional viticulture and winemaking while embracing modern techniques, with consultant Eric Boissenot involved in harvest, fermentation, and élevage. The house is also known for releasing wines later, after extended aging.