1776 Heritage - Limited Edition (Case of 6 bottles)

1776
HERITAGE
Limited edition of 500 bottles

Côtes de Bourg

A world premiere: the boldness of an unprecedented ageing process, giving birth to an absolutely unique wine, the fruit of savoir-faire blending tradition and innovation.

The 2025 vintage is currently available exclusively through a waiting list.
Please use the form at the bottom of this page to express your interest.
Requests will be processed in the order they are received.

“1776 Heritage” – the world’s first wine aged in 20-litre miniature barrels

“1776 Heritage” embodies a signature without parallel : in a reduced volume, oak has a more intense influence, endowing the wine with a singular character. Over the years, “1776 Heritage” will refine into a sovereign harmony, where power and elegance unite to express both the quintessence of Merlot and the grandeur of this vintage: 2025 already promises to be a monument. 

Produced from yields of only 20 hectolitres per hectare, the base wine is a concentrated nectar capable of embracing the special ageing process reserved for it. The miniature barrels are crafted in French oak by Tonnellerie Allary, an artisanal cooperage of excellence in our region, renowned worldwide.

“1776 Heritage” stands alongside the great wines of Bordeaux, while daring to innovate—always with deep respect for tradition

A family legacy : since 1776, our ancestors owned a small Médoc estate, Cru Le Moyne, whose wine was ranked among the finest of Bordeaux by local courtiers. Known more recently as Château Lemoine-Lafon-Rochet, the estate remained in the family until 2006, when it was sold to its neighbour, Château La Lagune.

Over the centuries, the Sabourin family’s winemaking activities have taken different names. Since 2016, Alexis Sabourin has presided over La Maison Girondine. Some of his ancestors held stewardship over prestigious Bordeaux names such as Issan and Cheval Blanc, where Mr. Fourcaud-Laussac famously drained the soils and imposed Cabernet Franc as the main grape variety—against prevailing trends. This spirit of innovation has always been at the heart of Bordeaux Grands Crus, shaping the world of wine for three centuries.

The Sabourin family’s miniature barrel experiments since 2010

In 2010, Alexis Sabourin used a 10-litre barrel to convince his father, Jérôme, to create an exceptional wine from a parcel selection. The new miniature barrel came from one of the greatest cooperages of the region: Allary, holder of six "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" titles.

The outcome was so convincing that the larger-scale project was launched with Leopardus in 2011. While that wine was aged in traditional 225-litre barriques, further miniature barrel trials continued. In 2025, Alexis decided the time had come to produce an entire cuvée exclusively aged in 20-litre miniature barrels.

Famille Sabourin and Château de La Grave : a partnership with an exceptional Côtes de Bourg vineyard

The Côtes de Bourg appellation, north of Bordeaux and facing the Médoc, is renowned for wines such as Roc de Cambes (Mitjaville family, owners of Château Tertre Roteboeuf in Saint-Émilion Grand Cru).

Alexis forged a partnership with what he considers the jewel of the appellation: Château de La Grave, a 40-hectare estate complete with a medieval castle. In the Bassereau family for over a century, the property perfectly embodies the union of tradition and innovation, combining wooden foudres and amphorae with state-of-the-art equipment and agro-environmental practices.

Certified organic and in biodynamic conversion, the clay-gravel soils, well-drained and ideally exposed, yield structured and elegant red wines. Philippe Bassereau, who has tended the vines since 1990, brings humility, experience, and expertise gained alongside some of Bordeaux’s greatest winemakers.

This is truly a cru apart within the Côtes de Bourg — a jewel that rivals the greatest Médoc and Libourne grands crus. A jewel perfectly suited to the meticulous craftsmanship embodied by 1776 Heritage and its unique ageing in 20-litre miniature barrels.

Since the 2014 vintage, the Sabourin family has entrusted him with producing Leopardus. The creation of “1776 Heritage” at the initiative of Alexis further strengthens this alliance between the Sabourin and Bassereau families.

Tasting Notes – the promise of a taste found nowhere else in the world

“1776 Heritage” will reveal a deep, almost ebony robe, a promise of rare intensity. Its body will display great power—ample, velvety, and supported by remarkable density and depth stretching endlessly on the palate.

Proper aeration, essential for a wine of such stature, will unveil its full aromatic complexity: Merlot from red clay-gravel soils will offer a bouquet of ripe black fruits, enhanced by our unique ageing method to reveal accents of cocoa, blond tobacco, and elegant vanilla notes. The finish will be distinguished by a singular smoky touch, completing this exceptional cuvée with rare distinction.

Technical Sheet

Volume: 75cl

Surface area: < 1 ha (parcel selection)

Terroir: Red clay-gravel soils, old vines on the upper slope of a perfectly exposed hillside

Grape variety: Merlot (100%)

Harvest: Manual

Ageing: Unique worldwide, in 20-litre French oak barrels

Estimated alcohol content: 14% vol.

Discover the other exceptional wines in our 1776 collection: 1776 Innovation, 1776 Tradition

Available by pre-order only: the 2025 vintage is strictly limited to one case (6 bottles) per client.