About Chateau Le Coteau

Château Le Coteau is one of the only remaining family-owned properties in the Margaux appellation, a bellwether in biodiversity that produces a balanced, Cabernet-dominant grand vin. The Léglise family has owned this small estate in Arsac for six generations, and when winemaker Eric Léglise took over in 1993, his goal was simple: above all else, respect the environment. He’s refused pesticides and never weeded the vines, using indigenous cover crops and a host of other sustainability-focused farming practices to develop a richly biodiverse ecosystem.

Rooted in Margaux’s famed gravel soils, Coteau’s vines are interspersed with flowers, where birds and solitary bees—a fascination of Eric’s—flit back and forth. He’s identified and cataloged nearly 200 species of bees on this twelve-hectare site alone, which serve as essential pollinators across the estate. Most of Coteau’s plots border prestigious Grands Crus Classés, and they enjoy the well-draining soils, sunshine, and mild climate that make the land in Margaux so ideal for viticulture.

In this terroir, they’ve planted 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, which all typically play a role in their grand vin. In the cellar, Eric vinifies his plots and varieties separately before blending them, and often employs a modest amount of new French oak in his aging. The wines emerge as sophisticated snapshots of their terroir and the classic Margaux style.