Chateau Malescasse

Château Malescasse is a Bordeaux wine estate, located in Lamarque at the highest point of the Haut-Médoc region. The wine is a classic Bordeaux blend, composed of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with a small amount of Petit Verdot.

The estate consists of a single 40-hectare (100-acre) vineyard situated on a well-drained gravel outcrop of soils like those in the Graves. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon make up 54 and 39 percent of plantings respectively, with Petit Verdot making up the final seven percent. Cabernet Franc has been phased out of the most recent releases, but previously contributed around five percent to the wine.

In the winery, the grand vin undergoes a cold maceration, and then a slow alcoholic fermentation. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel, with 35 percent new wood. The wine is then aged in these same barrels for 12-14 months. Malescasse also makes a second wine, La Closerie de Malescasse, which comes from fruit from younger vines. In total, the château produces around 130,000 bottles each year.

The property's neo-classical house dates back to 1824, and Malescasse appeared regularly in wine brokers' lists from this time onwards. After a time of relative neglect, Malescasse was bought by Guy Tesseron of Lafon-Rochet and Pontet-Canet, who reinvigorated the property before selling it to the telecoms company Alcatel in 1992. The estate was purchased by Vignobles Austruy in 2012 and further investments have been made to renovate the cellar and the château, and restructure the vineyard. Recent releases have gained Cru Bourgeois status, but a drive to increase quality by the current owner meant that only 50 percent of production was used in the 2012 vintage, and all of the 2013 was sold off in bulk, with no first or second wine being made.

Philippe Austruy also owns La Commanderie de Peyrassol in Provence, Quinta da Corte in the Douro and Tenura Casenuove in Tuscany.