2025 Château La Marzelle
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé
The origin
- Vineyard
- 14.95 ha of adjoining land
- Grape varieties
- 79% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Density
- 5 700 à 7 150 vines/ha
- Âge moyen
- 30 years
- Production
- 42 000
- Situation
- Upper terrace of Saint-Emilion formed by the former Isle riverbed
- Pruning
- Bordelaise method (2 canes per vine)
- Alcohol
- 14%
Following a slightly milder and drier winter than average, budbreak in 2025 took place under ideal climatic conditions, combining warmth and low rainfall. This particularly favorable context allowed the vineyard to fully express its fertility potential, initially limited by the challenging spring of 2024.
After an exceptionally rainy Easter weekend, a warm and dry pattern settled in from May onwards. Flowering began around one week earlier than usual and progressed with remarkable speed and uniformity, already pointing to a truly outstanding vintage. From mid-June, these warm and dry conditions intensified, leading to early water stress that would play a key role in enhancing berry concentration and quality.
Veraison in Merlot began as early as July 8th, even earlier than the benchmark 2022 vintage. Initially slowed by very dry conditions, it finished with excellent uniformity by the end of July, supported by timely rainfall between July 19th and 21st. The first half of August, marked by exceptionally high temperatures (10 days above 35°C / 95°F), significantly accelerated ripening. With no rainfall until August 27th, water stress became moderate to severe across many parcels, promoting rapid and high-quality development of skins and seeds—key factors for concentration and structure.
A shift in weather at the end of August, with significant rainfall between August 28th and September 2nd, proved to be perfectly timed. These rains helped preserve yields, refine ripeness levels, and prevent excessive potential alcohol, while bringing remarkable balance to the fruit. The early aromatic expression and rapid phenolic ripening of the Merlot led to a historically early harvest start on September 8th. Cabernet Franc followed on September 13th, and Cabernet Sauvignon on September 18th, each picked at optimal maturity.
The profile of the grapes has generated exceptional enthusiasm. The balance between aromatic intensity, freshness, and finely controlled tannic power is outstanding. All indicators point toward an extraordinary vintage, already standing as one of the finest produced in recent years, if not the finest reference of the estate.
Reviews
Xavier Lacombe (PRIMEUR)
“Nez intense, très riche en fruits noirs qui ont un profil bien mûr mais aussi très frais. On retrouve un bel éclat du cassis et des cerises noires. De très subtiles notes épicées sont présentes mais de manière mesurée, tout comme une touche de reglisse. Ce profil fruité est tempéré, rafraîchi et complexifié par de fines notes florales de menthe et de roses fraîches. Belle densité en bouche, le fruité, bien mûr, reste très énergique et offre beaucoup de mouvement malgré sa texture ample. Il y a beaucoup de concentration dans le vin, et cette fraîcheur apporte un très beau dynamisme. Les tanins possèdent un caractère délicat, amplifiant le contraste entre concentration et énergie. Très beau côté juteux, très belle maturité, avec des fruits rouges à la fois vifs et rayonnants dans un profil de fruits noirs ample. Une grande réussite!”
Bettane & Desseauve (PRIMEUR°
“Cerise noire, graphite et fines épices composent un nez vibrant. Ample et charnue, la bouche s'étire avec noblesse et séduction.”
James Suckling (PRIMEUR)
“Plenty of dark fruit, plum, cherry and orange aroma. Medium-bodied with a creamy texture and a consistent finish. I like the nicely ripe fruit in this.”
Jancis Robinson (PRIMEUR)
“Mid purplish crimson. Open and intensely aromatic with both black and dark-red fruit. Hint of chocolate. Deep-pile, smooth tannins. Rounded and caressing already. Firm but velvety. Terrific fruit with a bite of freshness to balance.”
Chris Kissack (PRIMEUR)
“This has an appealing sense of perfume, with blackcurrant and currant wrapped in leather and black olive. The palate is fresh, polished, harmonious and presents a charming texture, filled out with somewhat darker fruit than the nose suggested, with blackcurrant and black cherry, with currant and olive, as well as dark chocolate, black pepper and liquorice. This all comes set in a velvety, lively and voluminous substance with a long, tannin-gripped finish. A delicious style, this is a great result for La Marzelle, perhaps the most promising I have ever tasted. Tasted 3 times.”
Antonio Galloni - Vinous (PRIMEUR)
“The 2025 La Marzelle is so classy and polished. Dark red cherry/plum fruit, mocha, new leather, incense, tobacco, dried herbs and chocolate all meld together in the glass. Medium in body but also quite juicy. The 2025 is very nicely balanced.”
Colin Hay (PRIMEUR)
“This is gorgeous and quite distinct aromatically, with incense and myrth alongside the wild floral and herbal notes, all intermingling beautifully with the dark berry and damson fruit, naturally sweet. There's a hint of cedar to come. In the mouth this is plump and plush with cashmere tannins and a beautifully luminous mid-palate. Quite simply the best wine I have tasted from here, certainly on a par with the 2022. Liquorice. Truly delicious already and exuding harmony, elegance and finesse. Chewy on the finish.”
Jeff Leve - The Wine cellar insider (PRIMEUR)
“Flowers, black cherries, and licorice fill the fragrant profile. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with layers of sweet, juicy, ripe, chocolate-covered plums, cherries, licorice, espresso and spices. The finish continues along the same line with a refreshing energy in the fruits.”
Yves Beck (PRIMEUR)
“L'expression fruitée du bouquet invite à gouter le vin, tant elle est entraînante et élégante. L'accord entre des nuances de myrtilles, de cassis et de menthe y contribue évidemment! Crémeux et suave en attaque, le vin se distingue par son caractère linéaire et élégant, sans pour autant manquer de vigueur et de tempérament! Il est sapide, salivant, harmonieux et soutenu par des tannins bien intégrés ainsi qu'une structure rafraîchissante. Il demande à quelque peu s'épanouir ; l'élevage saura régler cela! 2030 - 2045”
Tjark Witzgall - Weinwisser (PRIMEUR)
“Intensives blaubeeriges Bouquet, Zwetschgenmus, Lakritze und getrocknete Rosenblätter. Am geradlinigen Gaumen mit fein nerviger Rasse, engmaschigem Körper. Im konzentrierten, aromatischen Finale Heidelbeere, Graphit und mehlige Adstringenz.”
Markus Del Monego (PRIMEUR)
“Dark purple colour with violet hue and black core. Concentrated nose with very ripe fruit, blueberries and plums, complemented by dark chocolate and mild spices, fine toasting and a floral whiff. Aromatic herbs in the background and a whiff of cold smoke. On the palate well structured with ripe tannins, juicy and ripe fruit, plums, dark berries and hints of prunes, rather full-bodied with very good length”
Vert de Vin (PRIMEUR)
Bernard Burtschy (PRIMEUR)
“Un vin ample et plein de sève, les tannins sont un peu rustiques, mais l'ensemble est solide comme d'habitude”
Jean-Marc Quarin (PRIMEUR)
Alexandre Ma (PRIMEUR)
“Château La Marzelle seems to possess a certain magic, shaping its wines into a rounded, gently sweet profile regardless of vintage variation. In 2025, it remains true to this character. On the nose, floral and fruit aromas unfold naturally, with creamy strawberry and sweet plum layered over rose petals, accompanied by a subtle hint of vanilla and cinnamon spice. While the tannins in this vintage show notable presence toward the finish, even carrying a touch of youthful edge, they are consistently enveloped by the estate's signature soft, mellow texture, allowing the wine to gradually settle into a state of balance and ease, fully expressing its graceful nature.”
Peter Moser - Falstaff (PRIMEUR)
“Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, delicate edge brightening. Somewhat shy, fine dark berry fruit, black cherries, nougat, underlaid with delicate herbal spice. Juicy, elegant, ripe heart cherries, integrated, supporting tannins, mineral and well adhering, good length, shows maturity potential.”
Adrian Van Velsen - VINUM (PRIMEUR)
“Expressif, avec des arômes de mûres, de copeaux de noix de coco et des notes épicées ; bouche ample, fruits mûrs, tanins fins, acidité bien intégrée, légèrement vif, mais avec une longue finale aux notes de fruits mûrs.”
Terre de Vins (PRIMEUR)
“Délicatesse de la palette aromatique, il y a un bel équilibre entre la concentration et la verticalité aérienne, cela s'annonce bien. Un vrai parfum sensuel. Jus bien ajusté, la chair pulpeuse se pare de tanins feutrés, l'ensemble se déroule en suavité, gourmand sans renier le fond, bien étiré et persistant jusqu'à la finale de violette.”
