A Walled Garden
In his expansive garden, hidden behind stone walls, Le Marquis attempts to grow vegetables and flowers. However, noting their failure to flourish, he concludes planting vines is a better use of the land. Thus in 1780, his private vineyard is born. He names it ‘Le Petit Clos’ - a sanctuary from urban life, offering him isolation and calm.
Au Château
The historic Château is at the heart of the estate, a mere stone's throw from Le Petit Clos and home to many a long-weekend party. Le Marquis often entertains his exclusive circle of friends - hunting in the Médoc woodlands during the day, followed by evenings filled with fine wine and lively conversation.
Summer Picnics
Leisurely afternoons in the stately gardens are enjoyed by Le Marquis and his guests. Together they revel in his secret indulgence - the rare luxury of his private wine. A small musical ensemble accompanies the sharing of lavish platters of cold meat, pies and pastries, freshly-picked salad and berries, cheeses and sweet treats.
Riverside Magic
The ebb and flow of the nearby Gironde estuary has sculpted the estate’s soils over millennia. Its warming influence works its magic in the vineyard, sheltering the vines from frost and ripening the grapes early. This exceptional terroir delivers a rare fine wine, worthy to bear Le Marquis’ name and coronet.
Secrets in the Soil
Le Petit Clos holds many secrets, recalling the heart of Le Grand Enclos de Las Cases, with large white galets and gravel-rich soil scattered over a deep vein of clay. This unique mix of soil imparts a wonderful but unexpected freshness to the wine – a secret ingredient that boosts its longevity and complements its rare balance and structure.
Horseplay
As a nobleman and Chevalier to the King, riding horses is second nature to Le Marquis. He is a man of remarkable energy, rarely still. Days out hunting on horseback are his escape. His treasured horses are kept stabled at Le Petit Clos, alongside those that cultivate the vineyard.
Tending the Vineyard
This land, just 4.5 hectares, is never worked but always tended in the spirit of a private garden - with delicate hands. A horse pulls a wooden plough, carefully guided between the vines to till the shallow soil. The dormant vines are meticulously pruned and the bountiful grapes are only ever harvested by hand.
Ancient Vines
The mysterious private wine of Le Marquis, once a secret of Saint-Julien, quickly becomes the talk of the nobility. Many years later, in 1904, it is named Clos Du Marquis. Its ancient Cabernet Sauvignon vines bring a marked soulfulness to the blend, alongside its signature flourish and flamboyance.
Historic Bottling
After blending and gently ageing the wine in fine French oak barrels, hand-blown glass bottles are filled and sealed with wax, then stamped with the signature coronet and marked ‘Petit Clos’. Some of these ancient, unlabelled bottles are discovered by the Delon family, inspiring the creation of Clos du Marquis, a site-specific cuvée in homage to the 1st Marquis.
A Walled Garden
secrets of Le Petit Clos