Château Martet is spread over 33 hectares in the AOC Sainte-Foy Cotes de Bordeaux, bordering the Dordogne River in Eynesse.
Owner of one of the oldest and most renowned Belgian wine and spirit négoce House (1886), Patrick de Coninck had the ambition, together with his friend Albert Michiels, to restore the noble reputation and heritage of an extraordinary vineyard and château.
Built in the 13th century on the Way of St James, a mere 25 km away from St Emilion, Château Martet is a notable reference of the “Grands Vins de Bordeaux”. Today, Patrick de Coninck’s legacy is still pursued by his children whom have elevated Château Martet as a definite not-to-be missed.
History
In 1991, Patrick de Coninck and Albert Michiels acquired Château Martet. The ideally located estate offers an exceptional heritage with a relationship to the vine and people that dates from the Roman period. Château Martet was built in the 13th century: a hospitable house of the Templar Order for pilgrims to the way of Saint James. Immediately Patrick and Albert had the ambitious plan to restore the vineyard and the property to its former glory. From 1993 to 2006, a restructuring of the vineyard was initiated: uprooting of grape varieties unsuitable for the soil and uprooting of large vines to favour low-density vines.
From 1998, Patrick de Coninck trusted Louis Mitjavile (Château Tertre Roteboeuf, Roc de Cambes) to advise him on both viticulture and oenology. Beautiful applications were born. Cord pruning, spring disbudding, green harvests and weighted stripping, harvests at staggered stages, taking into account the maturities plot by plot, allowed the reception in the cellar of harvest blossoming with great potential. These efforts quickly produced a great Bordeaux wine that is a true benchmark: the Réserve de Famille.
Unfortunately, Patrick de Coninck passed in 2016. The de Coninck Family decided to pay homage to him and to continue his efforts. La Fierté de Mon Père was born: a noble and generous cuvée with a pronounced character, the consecration of what made Château Martet so successful: the love of a terroir and the work of enthusiasts.
Today, the children of Patrick de Coninck continue his work: five great wines, a warm property and a preserved biodiversity that lives up to the reputation of this rich and passionate history.
Terroir
Clay-limestone and gravel soils, a preserved biodiversity, and a unique savoir-faire all contribute to the elaboration of ‘grand’ wines. The vineyard consists of 80% red grape varieties and 20% white grape varieties. Following a vineyard restructuring (massive grubbing-up of non-adapted varieties), their harvests today are well-rounded and produce fully matured grapes. No pesticides or chemical fertilisers are used in the vineyard as they believe in the importance of preserving biodiversity.
