France · Bordeaux

Chateau du Tertre

Chateau du Tertre is a 5eme Cru Classe estate in Arsac, Margaux, one of the Medoc's most geographically isolated classified growths — situated inland from the Gironde estuary on a gravel plateau far from the river. The property was rescued from near-oblivion by Erik Albada Jelgersma, the Dutch business mogul who also owns Giscours, purchasing it in 1997 and investing significantly in vineyard rehabilitation and cellar modernization. Prior to Jelgersma's acquisition, du Tertre had been underperforming its classification for decades. The estate covers 52 hectares planted to approximately 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot — an unusually high Cabernet Franc proportion that gives the wine its distinctive floral, aromatic character. At auction, the bulk of activity (239 lots at $57 average) is in the Les Hauts du Tertre second label, with the grand vin appearing in only 19 lots averaging $90 with the 2000 vintage most traded for both wines. The relatively modest auction average of $63 across 283 total lots reflects du Tertre's historical underperformance — though post-1997 vintages have earned increasing critical attention, with scores rising into the 90–93 range. The 2000 vintage is the reference bottle for the Jelgersma era, demonstrating what the renovated property can achieve in a great Bordeaux year.