Chateau Marceline

Village:
Saint-Estephe
Appellation:
1.2 ha
Grower:
Marc and Celine Druesne
Website:
https://www.chateaumarceline.com

Saint-Estephe is the northernmost of the six communal appellations in the Haut-Medoc, and with its approximately 1,300 hectares it is also, marginally, the largest. The appellation is known for thick beds of fractured limestone which are the foundation for a variety of top-soils that range from gravel mounds to sandy-clay. 

Marc and Celine Druesne created Chateau Marceline in 2009. For four generations, Celine’s family owned parcels of vineyards in Saint-Estephe and sold their grapes to the local cooperative. Prior to creating Chateau Marceline, Marc worked as a consulting wine maker in the Medoc. In 2009, Marc and Celine decided to produce their own wine from Celine’s family’s vineyards and found a small cellar available in the village of Saint-Estephe where they could work. They have a mere 1.2 hectares divided among 12 parcels. They produce approximately 650 cases a year. Their farming practices follow the principles of organic farming, and their wine-making takes a minimal intervention approach. The estate was classified “Cru Artisan” in 2018.

 

 

Chateau Marceline, Saint-Estephe

Chateau Marceline is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Prior to harvest, a selection is made in the vineyard and then once the grapes reach the winery a second selection is carried out before the grapes are crushed. The grapes are pressed in a wooden basket press and then fermented in cement tanks. The wine is racked into barrels where it ages for one year. Marc and Celine prefer using two and three year old barrels sourced from a local “Medocain” cooper.

Region: Bordeaux

The city of Bordeaux and its surrounding viticultural area are located in southwest France, in the Gironde. The area is formed around two great rivers; the Garonne which flows from the Pyrénées and the Dordogne which flows from the Massif Central. The rivers meet just north of the city of Bordeaux and flow into the Gironde estuary which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The regulating influence of the ocean and rivers, along with the temperate climate of mild winters and warm falls, have an important and beneficial effect on the vineyards...

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As the city of Bordeaux evolved into an important port and center of trade in the eighteenth century, its political importance grew, as did the reputation of its wines. The Bordeaux merchants, who had for centuries dealt with wines from “up river” were encouraged at this time to leave behind the wines from the other southwest appellations in favor of the local wines that were given special “fast-track” privileges. Today, a few centuries later, the Bordeaux vineyards and their reputation have developed significantly. Presently, there are 53 different Bordeaux appellations comprising approximately 275,000 acres of appellation controlée vineyards. This scale of activity insures that one can never know Bordeaux, but rather, continue to discover it.

We have found Bordeaux to be an area that far exceeds its conventional association with classification systems and the relatively few “grand chateaux”. As in other regions of France, our portfolio focuses on small family estates located throughout the many Bordeaux appellations. Beyond the circles of merchants, negociants and journalists that often define Bordeaux; we have found independent vignerons working on a small scale whose deep commitment and sensitivity to their land and work results in the production of beautifully rich and diverse wines. The Bordeaux winemaker now works with centuries old viticultural traditions which are being interpreted through a lens of modern technology and a global exchange of ideas.