Château Marsau
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Château Marsau, owned by the Chadronnier family, is a winegrowing estate in Francs Côtes de Bordeaux. Spanning 13.60 hectares, it is farmed organically (in conversion), focusing on Merlot grown on clay soils. Annual production is approximately 30,000 bottles.
Identity
Château Marsau is a family-owned winegrowing estate located in the commune of Francs, in the Gironde. It is managed by the Chadronnier family, led by Anne-Laurence Chadronnier, who serves as both oenologist and winegrower, alongside Mathieu Chadronnier.
History and philosophy
The Chadronnier family acquired full ownership of Château Marsau in 2017. Anne-Laurence Chadronnier, a graduate of the École Supérieure d’Agriculture d’Angers and the Bordeaux Faculty of Oenology, oversees winemaking operations.
The estate began its conversion to organic farming in 2018. As part of its environmental ethos, Château Marsau has also planted trees, including fruit species, around its vineyard to foster biodiversity.
The appellations
The wines of Château Marsau are crafted under the Francs Côtes de Bordeaux appellation.
Winemaking and ageing
The wines are crafted without the use of any wood other than that sourced from trees surrounding the estate's vines, according to some reports. Château Marsau has an annual production of around 30,000 bottles.
Practical information
Château Marsau is located at 3, lieu-dit Bernarderie, 33570 FRANCS. Visits and tastings are available by appointment, generally between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. Direct sales are available at the estate.
For further information or to arrange a visit, the estate can be contacted by telephone at +33 (0)5 57 40 67 23 or by email at anne-laurence@chateau-marsau.com.
Find out more
Frequently asked questions
- Who owns Château Marsau and how are they involved in the estate?
- Château Marsau is a family-owned estate run by the Chadronnier family. Anne-Laurence Chadronnier, trained in agriculture and oenology, oversees winemaking as the estate's oenologist and winegrower. She manages the property alongside Mathieu Chadronnier. The family acquired the estate in 2017 and is fully committed to its development and environmental philosophy.
- What is Château Marsau's environmental certification and approach?
- Château Marsau is certified organic, having begun its conversion in 2018. As part of this eco-friendly approach, the estate has planted trees, including fruit varieties, around the perimeter of its vineyard. This initiative aims to foster local biodiversity and enrich the ecosystem, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to sustainable viticulture.
- What type of terroir and grape varieties characterise Château Marsau?
- The Château Marsau vineyard is set on clay terroirs, described as a clay plateau, characteristic of the area. The grape varieties are predominantly—if not entirely—Merlot. This defining feature shapes the profile of the estate's wines. The vineyard is farmed with meticulous care, including exclusively hand-harvested grapes.
- What are the appellations and notable cuvées of Château Marsau?
- The wines of Château Marsau are produced under the Francs Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. The estate offers several cuvées, notably “Marsau”, “Francs Côtes de Bordeaux Prélude”, and “Francs Côtes de Bordeaux Prairie”. The “Prélude” cuvée was noted as the main release, and “Prairie” was crafted in 2022. Each cuvée expresses distinct profiles shaped by the nuances of each vintage.
The vineyard (terroir)
The Château Marsau vineyard covers a planted area of around 10 hectares within a 13.60-hectare estate. The vines, with an average age of 35 years, are rooted in clay terroirs, also described as a clay plateau. The Merlot grape variety is dominant here, and even single-varietal according to some accounts.
Vineyard management includes exclusively manual harvesting.
Flagship cuvées
The estate offers a variety of cuvées. These include the wines named “Marsau”, “Francs Côtes de Bordeaux Prélude”, and “Francs Côtes de Bordeaux Prairie”. The “Prélude” cuvée was noted as the estate's main wine in 2016, while the “Prairie” cuvée was produced in 2022.
The wines of Château Marsau display distinct profiles depending on the vintage. They have been praised for their understated elegance in 2014, a sensual texture in 2015, remarkable balance in 2016, and striking energy in 2017.
- Appellation
- Francs Côtes de Bordeaux
- Commune
- Francs
- Wine region
- Les Vins de Côtes
- Owner
- famille Chadronnier
- Technical direction
- Anne-Laurence Chadronnier
- Surface area
- 13.6 ha
- Certifications
- Bio
- Grape varieties
- Merlot 100%
Practical information
- Address
- 3, lieu-dit Bernarderie, 33570 FRANCS
- Phone
- 05 57 40 67 23
- Contact form
- Contact the estate
- Visits
- Oui sur rendez-vous