Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker

Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker is a Bordeaux wine estate in the Margaux appellation of France. Its principal wine holds the status of a Troisième Cru, or Third Growth, under the historic 1855 Bordeaux Wine Official Classification. The classification remains central to the estate's identity: it places the château among the established properties whose wines helped define the international reputation of the Médoc and Margaux regions. The estate traces its origins to 1585, when it was established by the Marquis d'Alesme. Its vineyard was planted in 1616, giving the property one of the long historical timelines associated with the leading châteaux of Bordeaux. In 1809, the estate was acquired by Jan Bekker Teerlink, a Dutch businessman. He was commonly known in Bordeaux as Monsieur Becker, and the Becker name was added to the estate's original designation. For a period, the wine was marketed simply as Becker in Bordeaux. Ownership and administration changed several times during the following centuries. In the early twentieth century, Comte Jean-Jules Théophile Chaix-d'Est-Ange acquired the property. He had also inherited neighboring Château Lascombes and intended to combine the estates, but died in 1923 before that plan was completed. During this period, the original Marquis d'Alesme château was used as offices for Lascombes, while the former Château Desmirail château became associated with Marquis d'Alesme's operations. The property subsequently passed through the hands of several owners, including the English firm W. H. Chaplin & Co. and the Zuger family. In 2006 it was sold to Hubert Perrodo, a businessman from the petrochemical industry. Perrodo reportedly had plans involving several Margaux estates, but his death in a skiing accident later in 2006 prevented those plans from being implemented. The estate is currently run by Nathalie Perrodo. The vineyard covers approximately 16 hectares. Its planting is notable within Margaux and the wider Médoc for its relatively high proportion of Merlot and the inclusion of a substantial Petit Verdot component. The reported composition is 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. This blend gives the estate a profile distinct from properties dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery produces the classified Grand vin, Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker, and a second wine called Marquise d'Alesme. Reported annual production is approximately 8,000 cases of the Grand vin and 1,000 cases of the second wine, although production can vary by vintage. As a brand, Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker combines historical continuity, Margaux appellation identity and Bordeaux classification prestige. Its commercial proposition is centered on estate-grown, vintage-dated fine wine rather than a broad consumer product portfolio. The château's wines are distributed through the international Bordeaux fine-wine trade and are typically evaluated in the context of vintage quality, appellation character, classification status and cellar aging potential.

Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker is one of the historic wine estates of Margaux, in Bordeaux's Médoc region. The property was established by the Marquis d'Alesme in 1585, and its vineyard was planted in 1616. Its long existence predates the modern Bordeaux classification system and places the estate within the historical development of the Margaux appellation. The name Becker was added after the estate was purchased in 1809 by Jan Bekker Teerlink, a Dutch businessman born in 1759 and deceased in 1832. He was generally referred to in Bordeaux as Monsieur Becker, apparently because only part of his double-barrelled surname was used or reproduced locally. For a time, the wine was sold in Bordeaux under the shorter name Becker. The combined name eventually became Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker. During the early twentieth century, Comte Jean-Jules Théophile Chaix-d'Est-Ange became the owner. He had also inherited neighboring Château Lascombes and considered combining the two Margaux properties. His death in 1923 meant that the proposed consolidation was not completed. The original Marquis d'Alesme château was subsequently used as offices for Lascombes, while the former Château Desmirail château served as the estate's principal château structure. Later ownership included the English company W. H. Chaplin & Co. and the Zuger family. In 2006 the estate was acquired by Hubert Perrodo, a businessman associated with the petrochemical industry. He was reported to have ambitious plans involving several estates in Margaux, but died in a skiing accident in late 2006 before those plans could be carried out. The estate is currently run by Nathalie Perrodo. The vineyard extends over approximately 16 hectares and has a composition of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Petit Verdot. This is an unusual balance for Margaux or the Médoc because Merlot represents the largest share and Petit Verdot accounts for a meaningful portion of the plantings. The property produces its classified Grand vin under the Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker name and a second wine known as Marquise d'Alesme. Reported annual production is about 8,000 cases of the Grand vin and 1,000 cases of the second wine. The estate's Grand vin was recognized as one of the fourteen Troisièmes Crus in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. That designation continues to shape the château's market position, linking its wines to the established hierarchy of classified Médoc properties. The brand's identity therefore rests on a combination of Margaux terroir, a distinctive grape-variety profile, historical ownership changes and the enduring prestige of the 1855 classification.

• 2006

  Acquired by Hubert Perrodo

  [1]Château Marquis d'Alesme Beckeren.wikipedia.org

  Hubert Perrodo purchased the estate. His death later that year prevented the broader Margaux estate plans associated with the acquisition from being implemented.

• 1923

  Chaix-d'Est-Ange consolidation plan ends

  [1]Château Marquis d'Alesme Beckeren.wikipedia.org

  Comte Jean-Jules Théophile Chaix-d'Est-Ange died before completing his intended combination of Marquis d'Alesme and neighboring Château Lascombes.

• 1855

  Classified as a Third Growth

  [1]Château Marquis d'Alesme Beckeren.wikipedia.org

  The estate's wine was included among the fourteen Troisièmes Crus in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

• 1809

  Becker name added

  [1]Château Marquis d'Alesme Beckeren.wikipedia.org

  Dutch businessman Jan Bekker Teerlink acquired the estate. His local designation as Monsieur Becker led to Becker being added to the château's name.

• 1616

  Vineyard planted

  [1]Château Marquis d'Alesme Beckeren.wikipedia.org

  The estate's vineyard was planted, creating the agricultural foundation for its later wine production.

• 1585

  Estate established

  [1]Château Marquis d'Alesme Beckeren.wikipedia.org

  The property was established by the Marquis d'Alesme, marking the beginning of the estate's documented history.

A historic Margaux classified-growth estate positioned in the premium and collectible Bordeaux wine segment, with a distinctive vineyard blend and a heritage extending back to the sixteenth century.

• Classified-growth Bordeaux red wine

  Château Marquis d'Alesme Becker

  The estate's principal wine and Grand vin is produced in the Margaux appellation and carries the château's full name. It is recognized as a Troisième Cru under the 1855 Bordeaux classification. The wine is made from the estate's mixed plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, a composition that distinguishes the property from more Cabernet-dominant Médoc estates. Production is reported at approximately 8,000 cases annually, subject to vintage conditions.

• Second-label Bordeaux red wine

  Marquise d'Alesme

  Marquise d'Alesme is the estate's second wine. It extends the château's Margaux identity to a separate cuvée made from the estate's vineyard production. As a second label, it occupies a different position from the classified Grand vin while retaining an association with the same château and appellation. Reported production is approximately 1,000 cases per year, although volumes may vary between vintages.

1. 1Château Marquis d'Alesme Beckeren.wikipedia.org