The property was founded in the 18th century by Gabriel Ferrière. He was a shipping broker and king's hunting officer. The estate was gradually expanded by his first cousin Jean, mayor of Bordeaux in 1792. At the death of the latter, the property was sold by the court for joint ownership and minor heirs. His widow, Marie Commet, bought her. She had three heir children: Gabriel, Michel and Rosa.
When his mother died, Michel Ferrière was the sole owner of the estate and exchanged some parcels. When he died, he left as his heirs his brother Gabriel and his sister Rosa, who herself was a widow of Jacques Castaing and owner of the Château Chasse-Spleen in Grand-Poujeaux, commune of Moulis in Medoc. Subsequently, the castle passed into the hands of their cousin Henri Ferrière who sold it to Armand Feuillerat in 1913, then owner of the Château Marquis de Terme.
The daughter of Armand Feuillerat, Mrs. Durand inherited the castle which she left to her children. It was in 1952 that the heirs Durand rented the vineyards to Alexis Lichine, owner of the Château Lascombes who then maintained and exploited it and had the harvest that was mostly in the castle Lascombes. For 40 years, Château Ferrière's production was very low and only the passengers of a major airline had the opportunity to see its potential.
In 1988, Jacques Merlaut bought the vineyards and the castle, but it was not until 1992 that the lease agreement with Château Lascombes was terminated and thus the first vintage produced by his daughter Bernadette Villars-Merlaut was born. Jacques Merlaut and his family also owned the Château Chasse-Spleen, La Gurgue, Haut-Bages Libéral and the GINESTET trading house. On the death of her parents, Claire Villars takes over her mother's work and since 2000, the year of the distribution of the properties between the family members, she fully assures the management of the cru, as well as that of the Châteaux Haut-Bages Libéral and La Gurgue.
2014 is a vintage surprise and a great success! Spring was early and the summer temperate and humid until the end of August. The vine has had a long vegetative cycle and a late maturity. These conditions mobilized the teams and imposed a sustained work in the vineyards for the protection of the vineyard. At the end of August, the heat and sunshine returned to our region for almost 60 days! Optimum conditions for an ideal and regular ripening namely hot days and cool nights. We observe an exceptional maturity of tannins with all the indicators to make a great vintage: grapes rich in polyphenols, a good level of acidity and sugars and a nice freshness of the fruit. The harvest took place from September 23 to October 8. The resulting wine offers a nose blending minerality, fruit and complexity. On the palate, the margalais style is present with its balance, great elegance, freshness and fine tannins.
The nose expresses aromas of ripe black fruit (blackcurrant and blackberry) and floral notes. A beautiful freshness, sharpness and aromatic precision. On the palate, the texture is harmonious, with wrapped tannins and fine. The fruit expresses agreeably and accompanies the wine in its length. A beautiful classic vintage.
The nose expresses aromas of ripe black fruit (blackcurrant and blackberry) and floral notes. A beautiful freshness, sharpness and aromatic precision. On the palate, the texture is harmonious, with wrapped tannins and fine. The fruit expresses agreeably and accompanies the wine in its length.
A beautiful classic vintage.