Château Marquis de Terme

Identity

Château Marquis de Terme is an 1855 Quatrième Grand Cru Classé located in Margaux, in Gironde. It has been owned by the Sénéclauze family since 1935. Paloma Sénéclauze serves as general manager of the estate, supported by technical director Sébastien Esquerre and cellar master Julien Brahmi. The consulting oenologist is Julien Viaud.

History and philosophy

The estate was founded in 1762 by François de Péguilhan, Marquis de Terme, and Élisabeth de Ledoulx, whose marriage gave the château its name. As early as 1787, the estate was praised by Thomas Jefferson as one of the finest in Margaux. The Feuillerat family then owned the property for 125 years starting in 1809. Château Marquis de Terme was awarded Quatrième Grand Cru Classé status in the official 1855 classification.

The Sénéclauze family has led the estate since 1935. As part of a modernisation drive, a new cellar was built in 1981, followed by the introduction of temperature control in 1999. The estate opened its doors to visitors in 2017. In 2021, a restaurant, "Au Marquis de Terme", was opened in partnership with Grégory Coutanceau, followed by the opening of guest rooms in 2023. In 2024, Paloma Sénéclauze, representing the fourth generation of the Sénéclauze family, took over the management of the château.

Château Marquis de Terme is committed to sustainable and responsible viticulture. The estate holds Level 4 HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale), Terra Vitis and Bee Friendly certifications. It is also recognised as an Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant. A zero-herbicide policy is enforced throughout the vineyard, alongside biodiversity initiatives such as planting fruit trees and hedgerows. The estate is actively working on an in-depth vineyard restructuring plan aimed for 2035.

Appellations

The wines of Château Marquis de Terme are produced under the Margaux appellation.

Practical information

Address: 3, Route de Rauzan, 33460 Margaux

Phone: 0557883001

Email: mdt@chateau-marquis-de-terme.com

The estate offers tours by appointment as well as bespoke workshops. It is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Château Marquis de Terme also features a restaurant, "Au Marquis de Terme", and five guest rooms. Events such as weddings, seminars, and team-building sessions can be hosted on site. Cellar-door direct sales and mail-order purchasing are available.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard spans a planted area of 45 hectares. The soils consist of deep gravels rich in quartz and quartzites, overlying a clay and limestone subsoil. This geology allows the vine roots to reach depths of up to six metres. The average age of the vines is around 30 years. The plots are located across the communes of Margaux and Cantenac.

The grape varieties are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (55% or 60%), complemented by Merlot (38% or 33%) and Petit Verdot (7%). The estate practices plot-by-plot vineyard management. Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand.

Flagship cuvées

Château Marquis de Terme produces several cuvées. The Grand Vin is Château Marquis de Terme Quatrième Cru Classé. The estate also crafts Marquis de Terme Cuvée 1762, a second wine first produced in the 2018 vintage, distinguished by a higher proportion of Merlot in its blend. A limited-edition cuvée named L'Empreinte was also introduced with the 2018 vintage. The estate also produces a rosé, Le Rosé du Marquis, as well as La Couronne de Marquis de Terme. Annual production ranges between 130,000 and 150,000 bottles.

Vinification and ageing

Vinification is carried out plot by plot in a vat room renovated in 2018, featuring thirty-one vats made from diverse materials: wood, concrete, and stainless steel. Grapes are sorted by hand, and vatting is gravity-fed. The wines undergo ageing in oak barrels for 18 months, with 50% new oak.