Château Odilon
Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite
Previously named Château Peyre-Lebade due to its geographical location – and where the first traces of viticulture date back to the 12th century and the Cistercian monks of the Vertheuil monastry – this estate has been renamed Château Odilon, in honor of the painter Odilon Redon who spent his childhood and most of his active life on the property. Many of his most famous paintings were inspired by the bucolic landscapes of the Médoc, dotted with moors and marshlands.
HISTORY
In 1979 this property was acquired by Baron Edmond de Rothschild who already owned the neighboring estates: Châteaux Clarke and Malmaison. It marked the beginning of a new era, starting with the complete restructuration of the vineyard and restoration of the buildings.
Previously named Château Peyre-Lebade due to its geographical location – and where the first traces of viticulture date back to the 12th century and the Cistercian monks of the Vertheuil monastry – this estate has been renamed Château Odilon, in honor of the painter Odilon Redon who spent his childhood and most of his active life on the property. Many of his most famous paintings were inspired by the bucolic landscapes of the Médoc, dotted with moors and marshlands.
TERROIR
Château Odilon vineyard covers 55 hectares of limestone and claylimestone soils. It is planted with a majority of merlot, which is quite unique in the Médoc. Cultivation methods remain traditional with grass cover between the rows. Leaf-thinning and green harvesting are carried out throughout the vineyard in order to achieve optimal levels of ripeness and concentration in the grapes. The average age of the vines is 30 years.
PEOPLE
This bucolic haven (originally named Château Peyre-Lebade) in the Haut-Médoc has a rich history, with records dating back to the 12th century when Cistercian monks at the Abbey of Vertheuil tended vines on the land. Many centuries later in the late 1800s, the great French painter Odilon Redon lived here and captured many of his most famous works gazing out on the undulating hills. In 1979, the forward-thinking Baron Edward de Rothschild, who already owned the neighboring Châteaux Clarke and Malmaison, acquired the property and began to restore it to its former glory, as he saw something that had been overlooked by others in the past.
Today, Château Odilon is now overseen by Ariane de Rothschild, and Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) has been taking care of the distribution since 1993.
