Chateau Malescot-St-Exupery
Château Malescot St-Exupéry (3rd growth) is named after two previous proprietors:Simon Malescot, a member of the Bordeaux parliament who bought the property in 1697, and Count Jean-Baptiste de Saint-Exupéry, who was the proprietor from 1827 to 1853.
When the Zuger family bought the estate in June 1955, it only had 7 hectares of vines. Three generations of the Zuger family have since relaunched the castle and restored its reputation.
Located in the centerof Margaux, almost next to Chateau Margaux and Chateau Palmer, the 45-hectare estate boasts 28 hectares of vines on a fine terroir (Pyrenean gravel) that "overlooks the river" - an indication of the best vineyard sites according to an old local saying.
The grape varieties used for the wine include 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Research showed that these vineyards have been used for more than 300 years.
Harvesting is done manually and transported in crates to prevent damage to the berries. After the wine is aged, it is blended and bottled without any filtration, in order to preserve the unique flavors and characteristics of the terroir.
Malescot wines can age gracefully for a very long time. The 1945 and 1959 for example are still excellent high scoring wines.
Château Malescot St-Exupéry derives its name from two former owners: Simon Malescot, a royal councillor to the Bordeaux parliament who acquired the property in 1697, and Count Jean-Baptiste de Saint-Exupéry, who owned it from 1827 to 1853. Located in the heart of the town of Margaux, the 45-hectare estate boasts 23.5 hectares of vines on a fine terroir that "overlooks the river" - an indication of the best vineyard sites according to an old local saying.
The property's history dates back to 1697 when it was established under the reign of the Escoussés family. It was subsequently sold to Maître Simon Malescot, advisor to King Louis XIV, who enriched the property for over a century before passing it down to Jean-Baptiste Saint-Exupéry, the great-grandfather of writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. He added his name to the Château, becoming Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry. The property was then acquired by Messrs. Fourcade and Boissac, who elevated the Malescot wine to its deserving rank, starting renovations in the cellars in 1870, which became a model for other castles in the Médoc region.
When the Zuger family bought the estate in June 1955, it only had 7 hectares of vines. After more than thirty years of relentless efforts, the Malescot St-Exupéry coat of arms has never been truer: Semper Ad Altum ("Ever Higher"). Three generations of the Zuger family have since relaunched the castle and restored its reputation. Half a century later, Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry still stands proudly in the Zuger family.
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