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Chateau Ferriere

Margaux - Claire Villars Lurton

Château Ferrière is a winery in the Margaux appellation of the Bordeaux region of France. The wine produced here was classified as one of fourteen Troisièmes Crus (Third Growths) in the historic Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. The Château has 12 hectares planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

History

Château Ferrière was founded in the 18th century by Gabriel Ferrière. He was a shipbroker and a King officer in charge of hunting. The vineyard was progressively enlarged by his cousin Jean, the mayor of Bordeaux in 1792. At his death, the property was sold by the court due to joint ownership and under age heirs. His widow, Marie bought it. She had three heirs: Gabriel, Michel and Rosa.

Though she was born into a wine growers' family, Claire Villars Lurton did not intend to manage a property. She lived in Paris where she had a master's degree in chemistry and physics. She was preparing a thesis in physics dealing with the preservation of old books at the CNRS (NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH) when her parents died in an accident in 1992. She decided to get actively involved in the management of the family properties. She gave up her studies and joined her grandfather Jacques Merlaut to continue the work of her mother Bernadette Villars Merlaut.

With flawless energy and determination, Claire took control of Château Chasse-Spleen which she has maintained at the top of the hierarchy of the Cru Bourgeois classification. At the same time, Claire studied vine growing and oenology at the University of Bordeaux with outstanding professors such as Yves Glories and Denis Dubourdieu. However, her main tutor was her grandfather, Jacques Merlaut. He taught her how to discipline her energy and sort out what is essential.

In 1994 she married with Gonzague Lurton, the owner of Château Durfort-Vivens, a 2nd Classified Growth in Margaux. Together, they purchased Château Domeyne, in Saint-Estèphe in 2006 and the Trinité Estate vineyard in 2012. This estate Located in the North of California, the property produces one of the greatest wines of Sonoma County named: Acaibo. Since 2000, the year when the family estates were shared, Claire has been at 100% involved in the management of the properties that have belonged to her.

Through her work, Château La Gurge has improved its elegance, Château Ferrière has found a new youth allying power and finesse. As for Château Haut-Bages Libéral, the wine completed its powerful Pauillac style with a touch of feminine elegance. Beyond the technical improvements brought years after years to each of the properties, Claire's main achievement has been to make out the best of the great terroir under her care. According to Claire, biodynamic farming is the key of the success.

Vineyards

With its 12-hectare vineyard, composed of Garonne gravels laying on chalk, Château Ferrière has the smallest surface of vines of all the classified growth in 1855. A parcel of this small piece of terroir lies in the heart of the Margaux village and is rounded by an old stone wall.

With 21 classified growths in 1855, the Margaux appellation has more classified estates than any other commune in the Medoc.