My September 2012 Tour of Bordeaux included a visit of Château Pape Clément, a Cru Classe de Graves. Pape Clement belongs to the wine imperium of Bernard Magrez, which now covers about 40 estates in Bordeaux and other parts of France as well as in the rest of the world. This article provides an overview of his impressive portfolio.
See more:
Bordeaux Trip September 2012, France
Bernard Magrez
Bernard Magrez is a self-made man who made his fortune as the founder of the William Pitters spirits company and the low-cost red Bordeaux brand. But for the past 20 years or so, he has been involved in quite a different, more upmarket side of the business: he has acquired prestigious vineyards and wineries, first of all in Bordeaux, then in other parts of France and more recently around the world. The total count at the moment is about 40 wine estates.
The Bernard Magrez Portfolio
GRANDS CRUS
CHÂTEAU PAPE CLÉMENT
Cru Classé de Graves
Château Pape Clément is a Cru Classé de Graves. The winery and vineyards are located in the commune of Pessac, in the larger Bordeaux City area.
Pape-Clément has one of the longest and best documented histories of all Bordeaux châteaux. The vineyards were planted in 1300 by Bernard de Groth, who later became Pope Clément V and moved the papacy to Avignon.
The noble de Groth family was based in Sauternes. In 1299, Bernard de Groth became Archbishop of Bordeaux. His brother (who was Archbishop of Lyon) gave him as a gift what later would become Chateau Pape Clement to be used as private residence as Archbishop of Bordeaux. Bernard de Groth lived there for 6 years. In 1305, Bernhard de Groth became Pope Clement V and felt that he should donate the property to the church.
In the hands of the church, the Pessac estate continued as a site of viticulture for many centuries, right up until the Revolution when it was confiscated and sold off as a bien national. In 1939 the estate was bought by the Montagne family ; they appointed Bernard Magrez as General Manager in 1985. It is now owned and run by Bernard Magrez.
The vineyard area consists of 32.5 hectares, 30 of which are planted with red grapes varieties ( 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot). The remaining plots are cultivated with white varieties of 45% Sauvignon blanc, 45% Sémillon and 10% Muscadelle.
Production of the Grand Vin - Pape Clément – is: 7,000 cases of red wine and 350 cases of dry white wine. Additionally, there are 2 second wines - Le Clémentin du Pape Clément and Le Prélat du Pape Clément.
CHÂTEAU LA TOUR CARNET
4ème Grand Cru Classé (Haut-Médoc)
Bernard Magrez bought the estate in 1999. Château La Tour Carnet is a 120 hectare estate with 68 hectares under vine, planted with 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot of red grape varieties, as well as white grape varieties of which there is a distribution of 45% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Sauvignon Gris and 30% Sémillon.
There are typically 15,000 cases annually of the grand vin Château La Tour Carnet. A second wine is produced under the label Les Douves du Chateau La Tour Carnet, with an annual production of 9,000 cases.
CHÂTEAU FOMBRAUGE
Grand Cru de Saint-Émilion
At 58 hectares under vine, Château Fombrauge is the biggest estate in St Emilion, and has had a variety of owners in its 400 year history, before Bernard Magrez purchased it in 1999.
BORDEAUX VINEYARDS - LES VIGNOBLES DANS LE BORDELAIS
CHÂTEAU POUMEY
Graves- Pessac Léognan
CHÂTEAU PERENNE
1ères Côtes de Blaye – Cru Bourgeois
This is an example of an ambitious estate in an undistinguished appellation. Bernard Magrez purchased the estate in 1997, and it is fairly sizeable, with 64 hectares of vines, mostly Merlot.
This is also where Gerard Depardieu, a friend of Bernard Magrez, makes his wine ‘Confiance’. His small vineyard is literally next door, and he has a separate area in the cellar where Confiance is made.
CHÂTEAU TOUR BLANCHE
Cru Bourgeois du Médoc
CHÂTEAU BOIS PERTUIS
Bordeaux
CHÂTEAU HAUT MOULEYRE
Bordeaux
CHÂTEAU DU BOIS CHANTANT
Bordeaux
CHÂTEAU LA CROIX DE L’ESPERANCE
Lussac Saint-Emilion
CHÂTEAU LES GRANDS CHÊNES
Cru Bourgeois
CHÂTEAU GUERRY
Côtes de Bourg
DOMAINE DES SONGES
Bergerac
CHÂTEAU LATREZOTTE
Sauternes
CHÂTEAU LA TEMPERANCE
Haut-Médoc
RECENT BORDEAUX PURCHASES
In 2012, Bernard Magrez expanded his Bordeaux holdings. Be bought Chateau Romer, a second growth in Sauternes, with at 3.5 hectares the smallest of the 3 puchases, Chateau Moulin d'Ulysse in Listrac-Medoc (10 hectares) and Chateau Malleprat in Pessac Leognan, totaling 15 hectares.
While details of Bernard Magrez's intentions are not fully known, it is believed that he will not release the wines under their existing names. Instead, he may use the vineyards to increase production of his current Bordeaux estates.
LES CUVEES D’EXCEPTION
LA CROIX DU PRIEURE
Premières Côtes de Blaye
L’EGREGORE
Bordeaux
LA SERVITUDE VOLONTAIRE
Haut-Médoc
EXCELLENCE DE BOIS PERTUIS
Bordeaux
CHATEAU LA CROIX DE L’ESPERANCE
Lussac Saint-Emilion
MAGREZ FOMBRAUGE
Grand Cru de Saint-Emilion
MAGREZ-TIVOLI
Médoc
LA SERENITE
Pessac-Léognan
DANS LE LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON
EN SILENCE
Saint-Chinian
LA PASSION D’UNE VIE
Côtes du Roussillon
SI MON PERE SAVAIT
Côtes du Roussillon
MON SEUL REVE
Côtes du Roussillon
DOMAINE D’OUSTRIC
Vin de Pays de Carcassonne
LE DOMAINE DE LA TRANQUILLITE
Vin de Pays d’Oc
DANS LE MONDE
ESPAGNE
Paciencia
Herencia del Padri, Priorat
MAROC
Kahina, Guerrouane
ARGENTINE
La Bienvenida
URUGUAY
Casa Magrez
PORTUGAL
Esperança, Douro
CALIFORNIE
Bernard Magrez en Napa Valley
CHILE
Hacienda de la Serenidad
JAPAN
Magrez Aruga
In 1998, Bernard Magrez acquired a 5 hectare estate on the slopes of Mount Fuji in Japan, where he produces top of the range white wines in association with local producer Yuuju Aruga. Annual production is 12.000 cases.
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