Version française

A family history

Château Tessendey has been owned by the d’Arfeuille since 1972, when Martine and Paul-Bernard d’Arfeuille undertook a vast programme of vineyard and winery renovations. Tessendey’s reputation was gradually established.


The d’Arfeuilles are far from being strangers to the world of wine: having lived in the Libourne area since the 18th century, during the 20th century they watched over Château Toumalin (Fronsac) and Château La Pointe (Pomerol) whilst also developing a trading business on the Libourne quaysides. Martine d’Arfeuille would also become the co-owner of Cheval Blanc, a Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé, serving on the management board until the estate’s sale in 1998.

 

Arnaud d’Arfeuille took over the reins of Tessendey in 2012, forty years after his parents. With his brother’s help he has established new ambitions for the estate, restructuring some plots of land and perfecting the maturation process. Arnaud is also involved in managing Château La Serre, a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé owned by his uncle Luc d’Arfeuille. The desire to do well is a family tradition.

Charming terroir

A carpet of roses and lavender, paths running through the hills, vines intertwined with a horizon of oak and pine trees: just a few hundred metres from the Saillans bell tower, Tessendey offers visitors the charm of a spacious garden.

 

However, the best perhaps lies underneath, where the vineyard rests on clay soil and limestone rock. Merlot works wonders in this typical Fronsac terroir, expressing power and a natural freshness. Merlots from here are never heavy, even in the very sunniest vintages.

 

Merlot makes up 75% of the Tessendey vineyards, followed in second place by Cabernet Franc which has found a home in the warmer soils. The plots of vines cover nine hectares in a single stretch all around the chateau. From the garden, the view of the sunny slopes is breathtaking.

Château Tessendey in images

STYLE

The estate is focused on crafting elegant, accessible and gourmet wines. These qualities are also paired with other facets that are naturally expressed by Fronsac’s clay terroirs, namely a phenomenal wealth of tannins and huge aging potential.

All of the work undertaken by Arnaud d’Arfeuille and consultant Thomas Duclos is designed to tame this natural power. A silky texture is a priority, so the tannins are refined by spending 15 months in barrels. The maturation process also ensures that the distinctive mineral notes and natural character of the fruit are preserved.

This exacting precision is not limited to the maturation process, but also and above all applies in the vineyard which is quite literally ‘gardened’ all year round. The art of gardening, like the pursuit of elegance, is a family tradition.

Version française

A family history

Château Tessendey has been owned by the d’Arfeuille since 1972, when Martine and Paul-Bernard d’Arfeuille undertook a vast programme of vineyard and winery renovations. Tessendey’s reputation was gradually established.


The d’Arfeuilles are far from being strangers to the world of wine: having lived in the Libourne area since the 18th century, during the 20th century they watched over Château Toumalin (Fronsac) and Château La Pointe (Pomerol) whilst also developing a trading business on the Libourne quaysides. Martine d’Arfeuille would also become the co-owner of Cheval Blanc, a Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé, serving on the management board until the estate’s sale in 1998.

 

Arnaud d’Arfeuille took over the reins of Tessendey in 2012, forty years after his parents. With his brother’s help he has established new ambitions for the estate, restructuring some plots of land and perfecting the maturation process. Arnaud is also involved in managing Château La Serre, a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé owned by his uncle Luc d’Arfeuille. The desire to do well is a family tradition.

Charming terroir

A carpet of roses and lavender, paths running through the hills, vines intertwined with a horizon of oak and pine trees: just a few hundred metres from the Saillans bell tower, Tessendey offers visitors the charm of a spacious garden.

 

However, the best perhaps lies underneath, where the vineyard rests on clay soil and limestone rock. Merlot works wonders in this typical Fronsac terroir, expressing power and a natural freshness. Merlots from here are never heavy, even in the very sunniest vintages.

 

Merlot makes up 75% of the Tessendey vineyards, followed in second place by Cabernet Franc which has found a home in the warmer soils. The plots of vines cover nine hectares in a single stretch all around the chateau. From the garden, the view of the sunny slopes is breathtaking.

Château Tessendey in images

STYLE

The estate is focused on crafting elegant, accessible and gourmet wines. These qualities are also paired with other facets that are naturally expressed by Fronsac’s clay terroirs, namely a phenomenal wealth of tannins and huge aging potential.

All of the work undertaken by Arnaud d’Arfeuille and consultant Thomas Duclos is designed to tame this natural power. A silky texture is a priority, so the tannins are refined by spending 15 months in barrels. The maturation process also ensures that the distinctive mineral notes and natural character of the fruit are preserved.

This exacting precision is not limited to the maturation process, but also and above all applies in the vineyard which is quite literally ‘gardened’ all year round. The art of gardening, like the pursuit of elegance, is a family tradition.

Version française

A family history

Château Tessendey has been owned by the d’Arfeuille since 1972, when Martine and Paul-Bernard d’Arfeuille undertook a vast programme of vineyard and winery renovations. Tessendey’s reputation was gradually established.


The d’Arfeuilles are far from being strangers to the world of wine: having lived in the Libourne area since the 18th century, during the 20th century they watched over Château Toumalin (Fronsac) and Château La Pointe (Pomerol) whilst also developing a trading business on the Libourne quaysides. Martine d’Arfeuille would also become the co-owner of Cheval Blanc, a Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé, serving on the management board until the estate’s sale in 1998.

 

Arnaud d’Arfeuille took over the reins of Tessendey in 2012, forty years after his parents. With his brother’s help he has established new ambitions for the estate, restructuring some plots of land and perfecting the maturation process. Arnaud is also involved in managing Château La Serre, a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé owned by his uncle Luc d’Arfeuille. The desire to do well is a family tradition.

Charming terroir

A carpet of roses and lavender, paths running through the hills, vines intertwined with a horizon of oak and pine trees: just a few hundred metres from the Saillans bell tower, Tessendey offers visitors the charm of a spacious garden.

 

However, the best perhaps lies underneath, where the vineyard rests on clay soil and limestone rock. Merlot works wonders in this typical Fronsac terroir, expressing power and a natural freshness. Merlots from here are never heavy, even in the very sunniest vintages.

 

Merlot makes up 75% of the Tessendey vineyards, followed in second place by Cabernet Franc which has found a home in the warmer soils. The plots of vines cover nine hectares in a single stretch all around the chateau. From the garden, the view of the sunny slopes is breathtaking.

Château Tessendey in images

STYLE

The estate is focused on crafting elegant, accessible and gourmet wines. These qualities are also paired with other facets that are naturally expressed by Fronsac’s clay terroirs, namely a phenomenal wealth of tannins and huge aging potential.

All of the work undertaken by Arnaud d’Arfeuille and consultant Thomas Duclos is designed to tame this natural power. A silky texture is a priority, so the tannins are refined by spending 15 months in barrels. The maturation process also ensures that the distinctive mineral notes and natural character of the fruit are preserved.

This exacting precision is not limited to the maturation process, but also and above all applies in the vineyard which is quite literally ‘gardened’ all year round. The art of gardening, like the pursuit of elegance, is a family tradition.