Marquis de Terme, Chateau
Summary
Château Marquis de Terme is a historic Fourth Growth estate in Margaux with 39.5 hectares of gravelly soils planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot across diverse parcels near Margaux, Cantenac and Arsac villages. The property maintains traditional Bordeaux winemaking while embracing thoughtful modernization through plot-by-plot management, gravity-flow systems, and precision viticulture tools that enhance their historic terroir expression.
Heritage & Leadership
Chateau Marquis de Terme stands as a Fourth Growth (Quatrième Cru) estate according to the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. Located in the Margaux appellation, the property traces its origins to the 18th century when it was part of the larger Rauzan estate. The chateau received its current name from François de Peguilhan, Marquis de Terme, who acquired the property in the late 1700s.
The estate changed hands several times throughout its history, with the Sénéclauze family maintaining ownership for nearly a century until 1935. After a period under the stewardship of the Sénéclauze family until 1935, the property was acquired by the Feuillerat family, who maintained ownership until 1995 when it was purchased by the current owners, the Seneclauze-Feuillerat family. Since 2009, Chateau Marquis de Terme has been under the direction of General Manager Ludovic David, who oversees all aspects of viticulture and winemaking. The technical team includes winemaker Frédéric Ardouin, who brings experience from several prestigious Bordeaux estates to his role at Marquis de Terme.
Vineyards & Wines
The vineyard holdings of Chateau Marquis de Terme encompass 39.5 hectares situated on the Margaux plateau. The vineyards feature the classic Médoc gravelly soils, with varying proportions of clay and limestone beneath the surface, providing excellent drainage and heat retention beneficial for ripening. The estate's plantings consist of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot, with an average vine age of 35 years.
The property's parcels are distributed across several sectors of the Margaux appellation, including plots near the villages of Margaux, Cantenac, and Arsac. This diversity of terroir contributes distinct characteristics to the final blends. The flagship wine, Chateau Marquis de Terme Grand Vin, represents the estate's primary production, while the second wine, La Couronne de Marquis de Terme, was introduced to the portfolio in 1989. The estate also produces a third wine, Esprit de Marquis, from younger vines and parcels that do not meet the standards for the Grand Vin or second wine.
Philosophy & Practice
At Chateau Marquis de Terme, vineyard management follows a plot-by-plot approach, with each parcel receiving tailored attention based on its specific soil composition and vine characteristics. Harvest is conducted by hand, with grapes sorted twice—once in the vineyard and again at the winery—to ensure only optimal fruit enters the fermentation process.
The winemaking facilities underwent significant modernization in 2009, introducing temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks of varying sizes to allow for precise vinification of individual parcels. Fermentation occurs in these tanks before the wine is transferred to French oak barrels for aging. The Grand Vin typically matures for 18 months in oak, with 40-50% new barrels used each vintage. The second wine sees a shorter aging period of 12-14 months with a lower percentage of new oak.
The estate employs a gravity-flow system throughout the winemaking process to minimize harsh mechanical handling of the grapes and wine. Recent investments have focused on precision viticulture tools, including detailed soil mapping and weather monitoring stations throughout the vineyard, allowing for more informed decision-making during the growing season and harvest timing.