Wine archive - Chateau Malescot St. Exupery

Chateau Malescot St-Exupéry as we know it today came about in 1955, when purchased by current owners Paul and Roger Zuger, but the estate has a much longer history than this suggests. Records indicate wine was produced here as far back as 1608, and it was during the 17th Century that the true origins of the estate lie.
In 1697 the land and chateau was sold by Louise Ecoisses to Simon Malescot, King's Counsel to Louis XIV at the Parliament of Bordeaux. Malescot not only gave his name to the property, he and his descendants also added a large house together with numerous outbuildings. Under the Malescot family this was very much a working estate, and they enjoyed control over the estate through the Revolution. Eventually, however, the family had to sell the property, and this was in 1827, to Count Jean-Baptiste St-Exupéry. Not to be outdone by the Malescots, the estate soon became Chateau Malescot St-Exupéry. The property subsequently came to auction in 1853, put up for sale by St-Exupéry's widow. At about this time the property was classified as a third growth in the 1855 classification, and this is clearly declared in the sale documents, together with a description of the vineyards, which had remained largely unchanged from the previous century.
The next owners of note were Messrs Fourcade and Boissac, who took control in 1870; this pair were responsible for the construction of the elegant chateau at Malescot. They refurbished and equipped the cellars, including the installation of a gravity-feed system for transporting grapes. Sadly, despite these valuable contributions, they did not enjoy the success that had come to previous owners and they sold in 1901. This was a period of uncertainty for Bordeaux, with the crises of Phylloxera, economic depression and a Europe ravaged by conflicts. In 1937 the property was under the control of an English administrator, WH Chaplin. Following World War II the English owners left the estate in a state of gradual decline, and it was not until the aforementioned Zuger brothers entered the scene that the fortunes of Malescot St-Exupéry were to turn. At the time of purchase there were just 7 ha of vineyards. The brothers have put much into the estate, improving quality, before handing over to Roger Zuger's son, Jean-Luc. Under the Zuger's the estate has grown to 23.5 ha, and many improvements and innovations have been implemented. Part of this expansion included the absorption of Chateau Dubignon, one of the smallest crus in the 1855 classification, now no longer in existence because of this act.

Country

France

Region

Bordeaux: Medoc/Margaux

Producer

Chateau Malescot St. Exupery

Volume

0.75 L

Color

Red

Type

Dry

Ranking

Troisièmes Crus

Alcohol

Barrel aging

16 Month

Grape variety

Cabernet Sauvignon

50%

Merlot

35%

Cabernet Franc

10%

Petite Verdot

Years

2005
2004
2003
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1983
1982

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