The winery is located in the municipality of Margaux in the Médoc(Bordeaux) region of the same name. Its origins date back to the 15th century, when it was owned by the noble Comtes Durfort de Duras family. They also owned vineyards, which later merged into the independent wine estates Château Margaux and Château Lascombes. The later US President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), who was US ambassador at the time, noted during his visit in 1775 that the wines should be categorised just after Château Haut-Brion, Château Lafite-Rothschild and Château Margaux. In the Bordeaux classification of 1855, it was awarded second place (Deuxième Grand Cru Classé). At the beginning of the French Revolution, the family was expropriated in 1789. In 1824, the estate came into the possession of the Vivens family, who were related to Durfort and added their name to it.
After several changes of ownership, it was in the same ownership as Château Margaux from 1937 to 1961, where it was also vinified. It was finally acquired by Lucien Lurton in 1961. Since his death in 1992, it has been run by his son Gonzague Lurton. In the mid-1990s, investments were made in new cellar facilities. The vineyards cover 32 hectares and are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (20%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). The extremely long-lasting red wine is matured for 18 to 20 months in barriques, one third of which are new. The second wine is called "Segond de Durfort" (formerly "Domaine de Cure-Bourse"). Wines called "Relais de Durfort" and "Vivens Rouge" are also produced.
Image: par Eugène Vergez - Gallica, Domaine public, Lien
