Château du Tertre

Identity

Château du Tertre is a winegrowing estate located in Arsac, in the Gironde department. It is classified as a Cinquième Grand Cru du Médoc in the 1855 classification.

The estate is managed by Cynthia Capelaere, with Romain Beurienne serving as the oenologist.

History and philosophy

Château du Tertre traces its roots back to the 18th century with Pierre Mitchell. The estate has navigated various eras, including its acquisition by the Capbern-Gasquetton family in 1961, who subsequently parted with it in 1997. In 1997, Éric Albada Jelgersma purchased the property. More recently, in 2021, the Helfrich family took over the estate.

The estate is dedicated to environmentally friendly viticulture, having begun biodynamic trials in 2008. A soil survey (pedological study) was launched the same year. The property has earned several "Best Of Wine Tourism" awards, notably in 2018 for its wine tourism initiatives highlighting sustainable practices.

The appellations

Château du Tertre produces wines under the Margaux appellation, located in the Médoc.

Practical information

Château du Tertre is located at 14 allée du Tertre, 33460 Arsac. The estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 5 57 88 52 52 and by email at reservations@chateaudutertre.fr.

The cellar door is open Monday to Sunday, from 09:30 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 17:30. Tasting tours and themed visits are available by appointment. The property also accommodates groups of 5 to 50 guests. Spoken languages are French and English. Cellar door and mail-order sales are available. Accepted payment methods include American Express, credit/debit cards, and cash. Pets are not permitted.

The estate provides accommodation, offering five decorated guest rooms overlooking the vineyard.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The Château du Tertre vineyard covers a planted area of 58 hectares, including 52 hectares devoted to red grape varieties. The average vine age is 45 years. The soils are sandy-gravelly, composed of ancient Günzian gravels.

The red grape varieties comprise Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. In the red vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for 53%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Franc 12%, and Petit Verdot 15%. Across the 6-hectare white vineyard, cultivated varieties include Chardonnay (50%), Sauvignon Blanc (27%), Viognier (15%), and Gros Manseng (8%).

Around 85% of the estate's vineyard is farmed biodynamically. Three kilometres of country hedgerows have been planted. The harvest is carried out entirely by hand.

Signature cuvées

The estate offers several cuvées, led by Château du Tertre in the Margaux appellation as its grand vin. The estate's second wine is named Les Hauts du Tertre, also under the Margaux appellation. A VDF Tertre cuvée is produced as well.

Vinification and ageing

Grapes are harvested by hand and undergo rigorous selection, including optical sorting. Following sorting and crushing, the berries are gravity-fed into the vats. The cellar utilizes concrete, stainless steel, and wooden vats, complemented by concrete egg-shaped vats.

Ageing for the grand vin lasts an average of 16 months, using 60% new oak and 40% one-year-old barrels.