Château Barde-Haut: The 20th Century
During the ensuing decades Château Barde-Haut changed hands several more times. By 1886 it was noted that the property was in the hands of the Lapeyrolerie brothers, although no other clues as to their identity are give. By the time the 1893 Cocks et Féret was published the proprietor was another widow, Madame Lebreton, and it was subsequently acquired by a Monsieur Larget, who is listed as proprietor in the 1908 Cocks et Féret. Despite the onslaught of phylloxera the vineyard seems to have been flourishing, as production has risen again, and is now up to 25 tonneaux per annum. The property is listed as a deuxième cru, just as it has been in previous editions, but neighbouring Château La Barde, which has also been acquired by Monsieur Larget, has been demoted to troisième cru. It received a much less detailed write up than it did in older editions, perhaps a sign of its declining fortunes.
During the course of just a few decades Château Barde-Haut had changed hands several times, and the sense that this is a viticultural hot potato does not then decline. At some point the estate also appears to come into the possession of a Monsieur Decesse, quite possibly the same Decesse we know to have been proprietor of Château Pavie-Decesse for some time in the early 20th century. By the time the 1922 Cocks et Féret was published, however, both Château Barde-Haut and Château La Barde were again in new hands, having been acquired by a Monsieur Marzelle. Château Barde-Haut was still turning out 25 tonneaux per annum at this time.
