Château Les Croisille

The history of Château Les Croisille began in 1979, when Bernard and Cécile Croisille arrived in Fages, in the town of Luzech, eager to build their own wine-growing venture. When they arrived, the land was largely overgrown. They cleared the land, planted their first seven hectares, and delivered their first harvest to the Parnac wine cooperative in 1984. But it wasn’t long before simply growing grapes was no longer enough for them: they wanted to take their vision all the way and produce their own wines.

After several years of learning and experimentation, they moved in 2000 to a former vineyard estate, which they restored themselves. This marked the beginning of a new chapter for the estate, which would gradually grow and pass on its expertise to the next generation. Germain joined his parents in 2008, followed by Nicolas—Germain’s childhood friend—in 2012, and Simon, the youngest of the Croisille siblings, in 2015. The family estate thus took on a new dimension while remaining firmly rooted in Luzech.

Today, the vineyard spans various terroirs in Cahors, ranging from limestone causses to the terraces of the Lot Valley. On the plateaus, the limestone soils are sometimes characterized by the presence of iron, particularly in the siderolitic terroirs. Some of the vines are also planted on gravelly soils in the Luzech Valley, including a 3.5-hectare plot located on the third terrace. This diversity of soils allows the estate to produce Malbec with a variety of expressions.

Malbec, the iconic grape variety of Cahors—known here as Cot or Auxerrois—lies at the heart of Château Les Croisille’s identity. In its native terroir, it can produce deep, rich, and structured wines, characterized by velvety tannins and a lovely freshness. But the grape also has another side—lighter, fruitier, and more approachable—which the Croisille family is also seeking to highlight as part of Cahors’ current renaissance.

Having begun the transition to organic farming in 2010, the family gradually expanded their efforts until the entire estate was certified as biodynamic. This evolution reflects a commitment to preserving soil life and working in harmony with the vineyard’s natural balance. Over the generations, the Croisille family has thus built an estate where experimentation, observation of the terroirs, and the pursuit of an authentic expression of Malbec take center stage.

From their first seven hectares cleared in 1979 to a family-run estate now entirely cultivated using biodynamic methods, the Croisilles embody a story of tradition and perseverance. Their Cahors wines seek to express the full diversity of Malbec—combining depth, freshness, and fruit—while contributing to the revival of a historic appellation in southwestern France.