Château Marsau offers one of the most refined expressions of Merlot in Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux, with a pure, floral and velvety wine shaped by deep clay soils and thoughtful vineyard work.

Château Marsau — High-altitude Merlot from Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux

Located in Francs, in one of the most preserved sectors of Bordeaux’s Right Bank, Château Marsau has become one of the most distinctive estates in the Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux appellation. The château produces a red wine made exclusively from Merlot, in a pure, floral and supple style deeply marked by the clay soils of its plateau.

Owned by the Chadronnier family since the 1990s, Marsau is now guided by Anne-Laurence and Mathieu Chadronnier. Their approach combines demanding vineyard work, gentle winemaking and a search for natural balance, with the ambition of revealing a more intimate, vibrant and finely crafted expression of Bordeaux.

History

Château Marsau belongs to the Chadronnier family, a Bordeaux family closely linked to wine and the region’s fine wine trade. Since Anne-Laurence and Mathieu Chadronnier became actively involved in the estate, the château has made remarkable progress, driven by a more precise reading of its parcels, careful soil work and a clear desire to produce a sincere, elegant wine true to its place.

Terroir

The vineyard, covering around 13 hectares, lies mainly on deep clay soils in a cool, slightly isolated environment east of Saint-Émilion. This setting gives Merlot a distinctive expression: concentrated berries, slow ripening, fine tannins and a natural freshness that balances the generosity of the grape variety.

Viticulture and winemaking

The estate follows a certified organic approach, with strong attention paid to biodiversity, soil life and vine balance. In the cellar, extraction is kept measured in order to preserve the silky texture of Merlot. Ageing favours discreet vessels such as large oak foudres, cement, previously used barrels or amphorae depending on the vintage, allowing the wine to develop without being masked by oak.

Wine style

Château Marsau offers a Bordeaux Merlot that is generous, floral and lifted. The wine develops aromas of black fruit, violet, peony, sweet spices, graphite and sometimes a chalky or saline touch. The palate favours texture, energy and finesse rather than oak-driven power, with a clean, fresh and savoury finish.

Emblematic cuvées

The estate’s main wine is Château Marsau, a pure Merlot from Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux. Depending on the vintage, it may show a more immediate or more structured profile, while always retaining the floral, clay-driven and velvety signature that defines the estate.

Cellaring and food pairings

Marsau can be enjoyed in its youth for its pure fruit, while the best vintages gain complexity after several years in the cellar. It pairs beautifully with roast poultry, rack of lamb, beef fillet, duck breast, mushrooms, dishes with fresh herbs and mature soft cheeses.

In summary

Château Marsau is one of the most compelling confidential signatures of Bordeaux’s Right Bank. Through its clay terroir, its focus on Merlot and its delicate work in the cellar, the estate offers an expressive, refined and sincere Bordeaux, far from stylistic excess and close to the emotion of place.

Dominant aromas

Blackberry, cassis, fresh plum, violet, peony, graphite, sweet spices, fine liquorice, chalky touches and lightly saline notes depending on the vintage.