The Winery
Producing organic wines, the estate preserves soil life and adapts each winemaking process to the specificities of each vintage. At the heart of this commitment, the estate welcomes local artists, exhibiting their works in the cellar, and offers children from the region the opportunity to experience harvests and the winemaking process, while introducing them to art through barrel painting, thus promoting community involvement.
Our story
Château Sémeillan, after belonging to the Viscountess du Pavillon, became the property of Mr. P.A. Hosten in 1925. Upon his death in 1938, the estate was divided among his three daughters, one of whom married Mr. P.J. Mazeau. Together with his heirs, they formed a civil society to manage the estate, renamed Château Sémeillan Mazeau.
In 1998, Mr. Jander and his wife acquired the estate and undertook its restoration, combining modernity with the charm of yesteryear. Since 2015, the estate has been certified in organic agriculture, thereby becoming the first certified property in the Listrac-Médoc appellation.
Château Lagrave Cissan, owned by the André Lescoutra family since 1919, embodies the art of balance at the heart of the prestigious Listrac-Médoc and Haut-Médoc AOC.
From its beginnings, this estate has forged a special bond with the local community. Grapes were once brought to the Listrac cooperative cellar, and the wines, appreciated for their robustness and authenticity, were primarily sold in the Asian market and also in France, to the firefighters who watch over the nearby pine forests. These wines, imbued with courage and dedication, thus became known as the 'firefighters' wines', celebrated during the Saint Barbara's feast.
The vineyard
The vineyard of Domaine de Semeillan Mazeau, covering an area of approximately 11 hectares, extends over the gravelly plateaus of Pey-de-Menjon and Champ-de-Lagrêle, located on the Médoc's highest point. The vineyard of Château Lagrave Cissan spans the Listrac-Médoc and Haut-Médoc AOCs.
Mainly composed of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties, it was enriched in 2021 with Petit Verdot, enhancing the blend with rich and velvety notes.
The winemaker
Pierre Jean Denis Bibian, heir to a winemaking family from Listrac, has been surrounded by vineyards since childhood. Immersed in the world of wine, he cultivates a rare passion and expertise.
His initial oenological skills were honed at the Lycée de la Tour Blanche. Noticed and appreciated during his internship by Mr. Cassignard, director of the Technical Institute of Wine, who entrusted him with the vinifications in the Madiran appellation for the 1976 vintage, as part of his oenological laboratory.
In 1981, he returned to Madiran, and three years later, he established the first vineyard with narrow vines in the Madiran appellation. His 14-hectare estate, Domaine Bibian, quickly became a symbol of excellence. Over two decades, he elevated this property to one of the most renowned in the region, with his wines praised by critics, including Robert Parker who awarded them high scores.
In 2021, following family divisions, Pierre Jean Denis Bibian returned to his Médoc roots by acquiring the vineyards of Château Sémeillan Mazeau and Château Lagrave Cissan, thus continuing his passion for the wine industry. Driven by a deep respect for the vines and nature, he focuses on creating wines that faithfully reflect the terroir and the unique characteristics of each vintage.
The complexity
The complexity of the estate's vines lies in the subtle harmony of terroirs, grape varieties, rootstocks, and clones.
The estate cultivates four main terroirs:
Clay-limestone: This soil produces full-bodied wines that are robust and intensely colored.
Deep gravel: Wines from this terroir exhibit finesse and perfect elegance, especially with Cabernet Sauvignon.
Gravel on blue clay: This terroir enhances freshness and protects the vines from excessive heat.
Gravel on alios: This soil adds to the complexity of the other terroirs.
On these various soils, we cultivate the emblematic grape varieties of the region: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot, the latter being a characterful grape native to the Médoc. Our vines, aged from 15 to 50 years old, impart a diversity of characteristics to the grapes.
A passion for traditional grapes
Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Carmenère... Do these names ring a bell? These are grape varieties that over time have been neglected because they struggle to reach sufficient ripeness.
However, with climate change, we are rediscovering these almost forgotten grape varieties, bringing them back to life to craft exceptional wines. It's a return to origins, a viticultural renaissance, where the past meets the present to shape the future of our vineyards.
Balance and harmony
In his vineyard, Pierre Jean Denis Bibian is constantly striving to achieve balance between vigor and yield, prioritizing the vitality of the soil. It's a delicate dance with nature, a commitment to preserve and honor the fragile balance of the ecosystem.
At the cellar, the goal is to create wines where balance translates into a harmonious symphony of fruity aromas, velvety tannins, and a subtle hint of wood that never dominates the other nuanced flavors of the wine.
The art of balance lies in the perfect adjustment of acidity, alcohol, tannins, and fruit, where each element finds its rightful place.