Bernard Magrez

Bernard Magrez, the passion of a lifetime

A true autodidact

Bernard Magrez was born in 1936 and by the age of 16 had become a wine merchant, a profession he learned on the job, self-taught. In 1961, at the age of 25, a trip to the United States turned his world upside down, as he discovered the hypermarket, then unknown in France. On his return to France, he set up his own business, selling whisky and port. He gradually extended his range of spirits, before discovering the richness of wine, which became his lifelong passion. He then created Malesan wines.

The 80s

The 80s saw Bernard Magrez turn to high-end wines. He acquired 4 prestigious estates in quick succession, establishing his reputation as a professional with unerring intuition. Always fascinated by what was happening elsewhere, Bernard Magrez continued to explore foreign wines, acquiring estates in eight different countries: Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and the United States. In total, he operates 43 estates and over 1000 hectares of vineyards.

Bernard Magrez's Château Pape Clément estate

The Château Pape Clément estate has been a famous Graves Grand Cru Classé for some thirty years. It was first harvested in 1252, and continues to produce both red and white wines. In 1305, it paid tribute to Pope Clement V by taking his name. The estate is located in Pessac. Its wine belongs to the Pessac Léognan controlled origin, and more broadly to the Graves wine-growing area. The estate surrounding the château is divided into three parcels, worked by draught horses and hand ginning. The Château Pape Clément estate wine has a wide range of aromas and tastes. Its nose is expressive and complex, its attack frank, round and suave.

Bernard Magrez's Château Fombrauge

Bernard Magrez's Château Fombrauge is a Saint-Émilion grand cru classé whose first harvests date back to 1599. The wine, red or white, is highly diverse, due to the size of the vineyard, which covers almost 60 hectares.

Bernard Magrez's Château La Tour Carnet Grand Cru

Bernard Magrez's Château La Tour Carnet Grand Cru has been a Médoc Grand Cru Classé since 1855. It bears the name of the squire who unfailingly helped his Seigneur resist the French royalty at the end of the Hundred Years' War. The estate is located on the road between Saint Julien and Beychevelle. Its terroir represents a mosaic of soils whose diversity contributes to the excellence of the wine. The vines are cultivated using a combination of ancestral manual know-how and the use of drones to analyze each plot. Whether red or white, the wine, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet, enables the production of complex, deep Grands Crus classés.

Bernard Magrez's Clos Haut-Peyraguey

Le Clos Haut-Peyraguey is a Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classé of 1855. Its vineyards nestle on the Bommes plateau in the Sauternes region, and the first grapes were harvested in 1618. Le Clos' white wine is soft yet complex. It's perfect as an aperitif or with ice cream and sorbet desserts.