Château Tronquoy-Lalande, situated in the heart of the appellation, is one of the oldest Saint-Estèphe wines. It takes its name from François Tronquoy, the estate’s first owner, and the place-name La Lande, meaning the heath, on which the Château’s historic vineyard is planted. The winegrowing estate was formed in the 18th century around the remarkable château built for the Tronquoy family on a design by Victor Louis, the architect of the Grand Théâtre in Bordeaux. The estate went through several different owners until 1968, when it was bought by Jean Texier and his wife Arlette Castéja-Texier. She would run the estate for 40 years. In 2006, Martin and Olivier Bouygues purchased the estate and undertook a massive modernization program to help bring the vineyards and winery into the 21st century.

Château Tronquoy-Lalande’s terroir, generally known as one of the finest, stretches seamlessly over 30 hectares (74 acres) of historic outcrops in the heart of the famous Saint-Estèphe appellation. The Merlot grape flourishes on the soil of the Tronquoy-Lalande terroir. 52% of the vineyard is planted with Merlot, a feature which distinguishes Tronquoy-Lalande from its neighbours, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. The soil comprises an 8-metre-deep layer of gravel and clay. The gravel ensures good drainage, while the clay retains water at depth which the vines can tap into as necessary. Immediately attractive in their youth, Château Tronquoy-Lalande wines gain in elegance after a few years’ cellaring. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon combine fruit and power, while touches of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in the blend give the wine freshness, refinement and aromatic complexity.