Heritage and Family

Since the 19^th century, the history of the estate has been shaped generation upon generation. In 1873, Jean Coiffard, a coachman at the Gironde Departmental Council, acquired the first vines and acreage in Montignac which he transferred to his daughter Marie soon after. In 1892, through her marriage with Jacques Vincent, a quarryman by profession, she contributed the original plots of the Vincent family. As for Gustave Cousin, a grower, he acquired sixteen hectares from a wine making estate in Saint-Felix de Foncaude and Castelviel communes.

1969 was a decisive turning point that consecrated the alliance of these two families: through their marriage, their children Josette Cousin and Bernard Vincent blended the wines from these two vineyards which quickly seduced brokers and merchants in the Bordeaux’s market. A man of action with a desire to undertake ventures, Bernard endeavored to enlarge and modernize the property, all the while serving as mayor of the village and remaining very active in the winemaking profession councils.  

The wines were then crafted for two decades under two names: Chateau LAMOTHE and Domaine LA MERLINE, the latter of which was renamed Chateau LAMOTHE-VINCENT in 1988 to incorporate the symbolic heritage of the family (Saint Vincent, the patron saint of winemakers) to the toponymic origin of the original vineyard’s name (La Motte, French for a knoll or feudal hillock).

Ever since the arrival of Christophe (their eldest son, trained in viticulture and oenology) in 1990, the vineyard has experienced a permanent restructuring in an endeavor to improve quality. Having observed vines constantly since a young age, his love for the land comes forth in a permanent quest for the perfect balance between the soil and the plant, the only guarantors of a ripe and expressive grape. He aims to make his best terroirs shine, but just as an attentive father would do with all his children, he continuously monitors every vine.

In 1999, Fabien (their second son) returned to the estate. Having studied biochemistry until postgraduate, then oenology and management, his adventurous and curious spirit first led him to New Zealand before settling down to lead winemaking and commercial growth of the estate. His irrepressible need to experiment, taste, and analyze, leading him to steadfastly explore new strategies and deepen his connection to the terroir, is an additional asset for Chateau LAMOTHE-VINCENT. In 2012, his wife Alexandra joined them to support not just the commercial development and the internal dynamics of the estate, but also welcoming visitors.

After the construction of a new wine cellar in 2000, a new era began in 2016 with the enlargement of the vinification capacities, new offices and the adoption of a new architectural style which incorporates modern materials into the traditional Bordeaux chateau style. This created a strong identity and breathed new life into the estate, all the while reinforcing its image and its opportunities for producing single vineyard wines.

Over time, our reputation grew and our wines were awarded several prizes and distinctions, including the trophy for the “Best Wine” in its category both at the International Wine Challenge in London and the French International Wine Challenge, countless gold medals in domestic and international competitions, coups de coeur in the Guide Hachette, and several remarkable ratings by critics.