CHATEAU MARSAU
chance encounters
… in Wine
Anne-Laurence is the winemaking talent and also harbours an insatiable interest in wines made at the hands of others, from Bordeaux and beyond. Originally from Brittany, among her great strengths is a natural affinity with the winds, skies and soils. She has a totally unique way of understanding the symbiotic relationship between wine and its birthplace. She talks almost incessantly of this magic, and of the wonders created by man and the vine.
Mathieu is the commercial brains but also, importantly, has an insatiable interest in the wines of Bordeaux and beyond, from the most prestigious to the everyday. He comes from a region on the cusp of the Gironde and the Dordogne. He has a totally unique way of becoming attached to these landscapes, and cultivating a way of life somewhere between nature and nurture. He talks almost incessantly of this tiny corner of paradise, where the diverse terroirs of the world are somehow reflected.
A chance encounter one day leads to lengthy, lively exchange, and while drinking in each other’s words and many wines too, they discover this shared passion, and dream of making wine together. Their wine.
An encounter is not
something additionnal,
but rather at the very
heart of any truly human life.
Charles Pépin.
…with a Landscape
I remember the first time I saw Marsau. We left the main road behind us, and headed east. What a joy to meander along the Dordogne Valley and cross the vineyards on the right bank.
And then, here we are, looking down the river, high on the plateau. The air is sweet; the silence too. A small island of vines drifts into view amidst the woods and prairies, with its harmonious curved lines, a simple, rural landscape that time forgot. A place of great emotion, simplicity and authenticity.
We wander through the vines; I cannot wait for even a small taste of these landscapes that in my mind’s eye is already wine,”
ALC. Notes
It is quite likely that you are
on your way to meet your destiny.
Man’s hope, 1937, Andre Malraux.
…with a Terroir
Every day I appreciate Marsau’s infinite variety of views. To understand the location, first there are the shapes, the shadows of the pine trees, the far reaches of the woods, the gentle trickle of water, the rise and fall of the land and the richness of the soils.
And only then did I begin to sense how the vineyard was exposed to the oceanic winds, aware of the sheer energy of the place. And all the intrinsic features quite unique to Marsau that each have an important role to play in the vineyard, forming a staggering inspirational palette.
Initially I thought the soil to be clay. But that is just the start of it, as it yields cracks and crevices, nuggets, nuances, flakes and textures, but more importantly, living, breathing soils.
Having endlessly scoured, observed and tasted, for us, the Marsau landscape presents a golden opportunity, a constantly evolving rich vein of materials for our wines. Together we are Terroir, along with all those who play a part by sharing their vision, expertise and ideas.
ALC. Notes
… and moments shared
We wanted Marsau to become a destination. A focal point for wine lovers of every persuasion. A place where you are just as likely to meet an expert on organic wines, as a close-up photographer, a sommelier with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, or an avid apprentice absorbed in the winery. And meanwhile, between the vine rows, Alice pedals her bike and Leo clambers a tree. And here, the focus is on perfecting our craft, the art of precision and skilled mastery. One day it could be an architect meeting an eminent wine critic, the next a neighbour delivering tomatoes from his vegetable patch, or an artist painting the resident wildlife. A constant stream of visitors, coming to share their own stories and taste our wines.
And as there is no such thing as a chance encounter, our stories are forever entwined.
No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever, which we must endeavour to understand.
françois mauriac.
CHATEAU MARSAU
chance encounters
…in Wine
Anne-Laurence is the winemaking talent and also harbours an insatiable interest in wines made at the hands of others, from Bordeaux and beyond. Originally from Brittany, among her great strengths is a natural affinity with the winds, skies and soils. She has a totally unique way of understanding the symbiotic relationship between wine and its birthplace. She talks almost incessantly of this magic, and of the wonders created by man and the vine.
Mathieu is the commercial brains but also, importantly, has an insatiable interest in the wines of Bordeaux and beyond, from the most prestigious to the everyday. He comes from a region on the cusp of the Gironde and the Dordogne. He has a totally unique way of becoming attached to these landscapes, and cultivating a way of life somewhere between nature and nurture. He talks almost incessantly of this tiny corner of paradise, where the diverse terroirs of the world are somehow reflected.
A chance encounter one day leads to lengthy, lively exchange, and while drinking in each other’s words and many wines too, they discover this shared passion, and dream of making wine together. Their wine.
An encounter
is not something
additionnal,
but rather at
the very
heart of any truly
human life.
Charles Pépin.
…with a Landscape
I remember the first time I saw Marsau. We left the main road behind us, and headed east. What a joy to meander along the Dordogne Valley and cross the vineyards on the right bank.
And then, here we are, looking down the river, high on the plateau. The air is sweet; the silence too. A small island of vines drifts into view amidst the woods and prairies, with its harmonious curved lines, a simple, rural landscape that time forgot. A place of great emotion, simplicity and authenticity.
We wander through the vines; I cannot wait for even a small taste of these landscapes that in my mind’s eye is already wine,”
ALC. Notes
It is quite likely that you are
on your way to meet your destiny..
Man’s hope, 1937, Andre Malraux.
…with a Terroir
Every day I appreciate Marsau’s infinite variety of views. To understand the location, first there are the shapes, the shadows of the pine trees, the far reaches of the woods, the gentle trickle of water, the rise and fall of the land and the richness of the soils.
And only then did I begin to sense how the vineyard was exposed to the oceanic winds, aware of the sheer energy of the place. And all the intrinsic features quite unique to Marsau that each have an important role to play in the vineyard, forming a staggering inspirational palette.
Initially I thought the soil to be clay. But that is just the start of it, as it yields cracks and crevices, nuggets, nuances, flakes and textures, but more importantly, living, breathing soils.
Having endlessly scoured, observed and tasted, for us, the Marsau landscape presents a golden opportunity, a constantly evolving rich vein of materials for our wines. Together we are Terroir, along with all those who play a part by sharing their vision, expertise and ideas.
ALC. Notes
… and moments shared
We wanted Marsau to become a destination. A focal point for wine lovers of every persuasion. A place where you are just as likely to meet an expert on organic wines, as a close-up photographer, a sommelier with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, or an avid apprentice absorbed in the winery. And meanwhile, between the vine rows, Alice pedals her bike and Leo clambers a tree. And here, the focus is on perfecting our craft, the art of precision and skilled mastery. One day it could be an architect meeting an eminent wine critic, the next a neighbour delivering tomatoes from his vegetable patch, or an artist painting the resident wildlife. A constant stream of visitors, coming to share their own stories and taste our wines.
And as there is no such thing as a chance encounter, our stories are forever entwined.
No love, no friendship,
can cross the path of our destiny
without leaving some mark on it forever,
which we must endeavour to understand.
françois mauriac.
