Château Marquis de Terme

History of Château Marquis de Terme

The history of Château Marquis de Terme dates back to the 15th century, but it was in 1762 that this prestigious name officially came into being. The estate was given as a dowry to François de Peguilhan, Marquis de Terme, by Mademoiselle Elisabeth de Ledoulx d'Emplet upon their marriage. It is from this moment that the estate began to establish itself in the wine-growing landscape of Margaux.

Château Marquis de Terme has traversed the centuries, marked by periods of prosperity and turbulence, notably during the French Revolution. In the 19th century, the Feuillerat family took over the reins of the estate, bringing notable improvements to the quality of the wines. In 1855, during the Universal Exhibition organised by Napoleon III, the estate was recognised as a Grand Cru Classé, a distinction that crowned centuries of effort to perfect the château's wines.

In 1935, Pierre Sénéclauze, a wine merchant, acquired the estate. Since then, the Sénéclauze family has managed Château Marquis de Terme with passion and determination, perpetuating the legacy of this Grand Cru Classé while adapting it to the modern demands of the international wine market. The arrival of Ludovic David in 2009 as director of the estate marked the beginning of a new era, with an emphasis on wine tourism and innovation, while preserving the authenticity of the wines.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Marquis de Terme

Château Marquis de Terme benefits from an exceptional terroir on the left bank, at the heart of the Margaux appellation, renowned for producing some of the most refined wines of the Médoc. The estate extends over 40 hectares, principally situated on gravel soils typical of Margaux, which ensure excellent drainage for the vines. This type of soil encourages deep root penetration and allows the noble grape varieties to express themselves fully.

The vineyard is composed predominantly of Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), followed by Merlot (33%) and Petit Verdot (7%), three grape varieties that contribute to the wines' structure, roundness and aromatic complexity. The vines average 30 to 35 years of age, an ideal age for producing high-quality grapes capable of yielding well-balanced wines rich in flavour.

Spread across the communes of Margaux and Cantenac, the estate possesses parcels with varied characteristics. Deep gravel soils over a clay subsoil, fine gravel and sandy soils lend the wines of Château Marquis de Terme a great diversity of expression. This variety of terroirs allows for precise parcel management, with each parcel treated according to its specific needs, ensuring a consistently optimal quality of grapes.

Since 2017, the estate has been certified in organic farming, demonstrating the commitment of Château Marquis de Terme to environmentally responsible practices. This certification is the result of a desire to preserve the biodiversity of the vineyard while producing authentic and wholesome wines.

Winemaking at Château Marquis de Terme

The winemaking process at Château Marquis de Terme is a skillful blend of tradition and innovation. The grapes are harvested by hand, with meticulous sorting in the vineyard and again on a sorting table, in order to select only the ripest and finest quality clusters. The harvests are vinified parcel by parcel, allowing the specific characteristics of each terroir to be respected.

Alcoholic fermentation takes place in thermo-regulated concrete vats, a technological choice that allows for better temperature control and optimises the extraction of aromas and tannins. This method ensures well-balanced, refined and elegant wines, in keeping with the style of Margaux.

The wines are then aged in French oak barrels for 16 to 18 months, with a proportion of 33% to 50% new casks. The remainder of the ageing takes place in egg-shaped concrete vats, an innovative technique that promotes gentle oxygenation of the wines and enhances their minerality. This parcel-by-parcel vinification and careful ageing bestow upon the wines of Château Marquis de Terme exceptional complexity and depth.

The Cuvées of Château Marquis de Terme

Château Marquis de Terme offers several cuvées that reflect the full richness and diversity of its terroir.

Marquis de Terme

This flagship cuvée is the pure expression of the Margaux terroir. A classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, it is distinguished by its aromas of dark fruits, cedar and tobacco, with a full-bodied palate, silky tannins and a long finish. This wine is designed to age and improve over time, offering a unique experience with each vintage.

Marquis de Terme Cuvée 1762

Launched in 2022 to celebrate the estate's 260th anniversary, the Cuvée 1762 is a tribute to the history of the Château. This wine aspires to be the purest and most elegant expression of the terroir, with a perfect balance between subtlety and power. Crafted from the finest parcels of the vineyard, this cuvée presents notes of red fruits, spices and a beautiful minerality. It is an exceptional wine that stands out for its finesse and ageing potential.

La Couronne de Marquis de Terme 

Formerly known as Les Gondats de Marquis de Term, this second wine of the estate offers a more accessible approach to the Marquis de Terme style, while retaining a beautiful complexity. Less tannic than the Grand Vin, it is enjoyed younger, yet retains all the typicity of Margaux wines, with fruity aromas and a fine structure.

The finest vintages of Margaux, one of the most prestigious wines of Bordeaux, are renowned for their finesse and elegance. Among the most remarkable years, one finds 1959, 1983, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1996 and 1999, celebrated for their complexity and longevity. More recent vintages such as 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2016 are also highly regarded for their structure and richness. Other years such as 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 confirm Margaux's consistency in producing exceptional wines, a symbol of Bordeaux excellence.

Discover all the Fourth Grands Crus Classés of Bordeaux, each representing the richness of the great terroirs of the Médoc. In Saint-Julien, explore the wines of Château Beychevelle, Château Branaire-Ducru, and Château Talbot. In Pauillac, Château Duhart-Milon offers wines with the typical character of the appellation, while Château Lafon-Rochet in Saint-Estèphe produces robust crus. In the Haut-Médoc, Château La Tour Carnet stands out, while the renown of Margaux extends with the estates of Château Marquis de Terme, Château Pouget, Château Prieuré-Lichine, and Château Saint-Pierre. Each of these estates reflects in its own way the identity of the Fourth Grands Crus Classés.

Château Marquis de Terme is an emblematic estate of the Margaux appellation, recognized for its wines of unparalleled finesse and elegance. Classified as a Grand Cru Classé in 1855, this estate has evolved over the centuries while preserving its expertise and unique terroir. Thanks to precise winemaking and careful ageing, the wines of Château Marquis de Terme are both modern and timeless, perfect for lovers of great wines from the Médoc. Whether it is the Grand Vin Marquis de Terme or the Cuvée 1762, each bottle tells the story of this exceptional terroir.