Château Jean Lamat traces its origins back to the Duperrieu de Taste family, established in Sainte-Croix-du-Mont in the early 17th century. This family of parliamentarians built their first residence in 1715, one wing of which still stands today. Château Jean Lamat was built in 1772 for Pierre Duperrieu de Taste, a councillor at the Bordeaux Court of Aydes, following his marriage to Catherine Clock, heiress of one of Bordeaux’s leading 18th-century merchant families, originally from Gouda in Holland. Pierre Duperrieu de Taste chose a typically Bordeaux style, very much in vogue among the parliamentary society established in the region, to build the house, calling on the Laclotte family, famous Bordeaux architects of the time.
In 1831, their granddaughter, Catherine Hélène, married a merchant from Hamburg, Jean-Henri Dresky, who invested a great deal of time and effort in redesigning, completing and modernising Château Jean Lamat, giving it its current form as a patrician residence overlooking its vineyards, surrounded by farm buildings and a park. Their daughter, Berthe Dresky, married Edmond de Vathaire in 1857. Edmond de Vathaire brought about a major change in the fortunes of Château Jean Lamat, switching from the sale of wine through the wine trade to northern Europe to the sale of bottled wine to private individuals. His son, André de Vathaire, followed in his footsteps, notably by entering Château Jean Lamat in various world exhibitions at the turn of the century, in London, Brussels and Milan. Château Jean Lamat has remained in the same family to this day. From the outset, Château Jean Lamat has been a family property and remains so today. After his brother Joël, Michel de Vathaire is now at the head of the vineyard. With the help of his children and nephews, he is working to renew the vineyard and develop distribution in France and Europe. A major renovation campaign has been under way since 2012, and the entire vineyard has been certified to level 3 of the High Environmental Value label since 2022. Throughout the year, the château is open for tastings and sales on site, and takes part in two major events during the year: – the Sainte-Croix-du-Mont appellation’s open days, on a weekend in mid-November, – a weekend to promote Château Jean Lamat at the Maison des Vins de Cadillac in the spring.
