The renaissance of Château Duplessis

door | 12 apr 2022 | Nieuws

Since it was purchased by Philippe Ferrier, Château Duplessis has benefited from a major renovation of both the vineyards and outbuildings. The 23-hectare estate has been given a new lease of life and now boasts state-of-the-art wine facilities, becoming one of the finest estates in the Moulis-en-Médoc appellation. 

Philippe Ferrier, a daring entrepreneur

After retiring from his career in construction in 2015, Philippe Ferrier purchased Château Duplessis. Born into a family of winegrowers in Blaye, he has always loved all things wine and vine-related, and eventually managed to achieve his long-standing dream of owning a wine estate. A self-taught entrepreneur at heart, Philippe knows how to succeed and is adept to the art of combining pleasure and investments. Following the sale of his companies and several trips to the Bordeaux region, he fell in love with a jewel of an estate in the Moulis appellation. Won over by its high-quality potential and great history, he set about bringing it back to life and producing a very expressive wine. 

Duplessis, a name filled with history

How can you resist falling under the spell of an estate that boasted an “excellent long-established reputation” in the 19thcentury (Cocks & Féret, 1874) and was named after one of the most colourful figures of the Enlightenment period? Indeed, Louis-François Armand de Vignerot du Plessis, the nephew of Cardinal Richelieu and military governor of Guyenne in 1755, was a man of good taste and a lover of fine wine. His family owned the estate in the Moulis appellation in the 17th and 18th centuries. In order to restore the estate to its former glory and give the wine the showcase it deserves, Philippe Ferrier carried out a major renovation which propelled Château Duplessis into a new era. To ensure the success of his project, he drew upon the skills of the Baggio-Piechaud architectural firm and the landscape designer, Graziella Barsacq, both from Gironde. 

A new image where aesthetics and practicality go hand in hand

The stables and former outbuildings were preserved and renovated with great care in order to respect the architectural spirit of the estate. 1,300 m2 of technical buildings were renovated, including the grape reception area, vat room, barrel cellar, as well as the visitor area and tasting room, hospitality areas and apartments. A gravity-flow vat room was inaugurated in 2016 to preserve the grapes until fermentation and enhance their aromas, colour and tannins. Château Duplessis now benefits from state-of-the-art winemaking facilities. No aspect has been overlooked in the renaissance of Duplessis, which has also been given a brand-new image. From the 2015 vintage onwards, the label has been adapted and streamlined with a contemporary design. The same year it was purchased, Château Duplessis was recognized as a Crus Bourgeois.

A verdant and inviting backdrop

Surrounded by vineyards, the château is set against a verdant backdrop, creating a peaceful, inviting landscape. HEV3-certified (High Environmental Value), the estate is committed to meeting sustainable development criteria and ensuring respect for the environment and social responsibility. Its hospitable setting is ideally suited to welcoming visitors and professionals and offering high-quality wines at reasonable prices. 

A fruity, elegant wine made predominantly from Merlot

Located in the southwestern part of Moulis-en-Médoc and a stone’s throw from Château Brillette and Château Anthonic, the estate is currently home to 23 hectares of vines, which are all planted in the heart of the appellation on clay-limestone and sandy, clay-silt soils. Merlot predominates in this terroir, accounting for 65% of grape varieties. It produces smooth wines with red fruit aromas. Cabernet Sauvignon (29%) contributes an intense colour, a wonderful tannic structure and black fruit notes. Cabernet Franc (5%) reveals subtle red fruit aromas (raspberry), underpinned by elegant tannins. 1% Petit Verdot adds the final touch, with wonderfully rich tannins, a deep, intense colour and aromas of spices and violet. These grape varieties are ideally adapted to the soil, producing well-structured wines with good volume on the palate and excellent ageing potential.