Château Haut-Marbuzet

Château Haut-Marbuzet is an estate in the Saint-Estèphe appellation, in the Haut Médoc area of ​​Bordeaux. Although its origins date back to the 18th century, the estate has emerged as a producer of the highest quality in the 1950s, following its acquisition by Hervé Duboscq. Today, his son Henri Duboscq is the winemaker and owner of Haut-Marbuzet (as well as owner of other prestigious estates such as Château Chambert-Marbuzet and Château Tour de Marbuzet). Initially listed as a Crus Bourgeois in 1932, and later promoted to Grand Bourgeois Exceptionnel in 1978, Château Haut Marbuzet was classified as one of 9 Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnels in the official 2003 classification. David Peppercorn, British Master of Wine, importer of French wines and famous author of books on Bordeaux wines stated that today, Haut-Marbuzet is widely regarded as a cru classé wine, well beyond the bottom rung. With the land wedged between the Chateau Cos d'Estournel and Montrose, the vineyard covers 61 hectares and is planted 50% with Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% with Merlot and 10% with Cabernet Franc. Overlooking the Gironde estuary, the vineyards are mainly located on the Marbuzet gravel ridge and the Long Treytin plateau. The high percentage of merlot, rather unusual in the traditional blends of Saint-Estèphe, in addition to a long aging period in new oak barrels, contributes remarkably to the smoothness of the wine. Haut-Marbuzet wines are often described as exotic or opulent, they develop an unusual elasticity and personal character in the normally austere style of Saint-Estèphe. A second wine is produced from young vines, under 12 years old, with the Château MacCarthy label, which takes the name of the Irish Jacobite family that planted the vineyard.