Menu
By placing bids on items you acknowledge you are entering into a binding and irrevocable agreement to purchase such items as governed by our Terms and Conditions.
By placing bids on items you acknowledge you are entering into a binding and irrevocable agreement to purchase such items as governed by our Terms and Conditions.
Bordeaux
Free Valuations
Bid for Wine offer free no obligation wine valuations. If you have similar wines to sell, or want a valuation on a collection we can help.
Start Valuation
Chateau Olivier is one of the oldest properties in Bordeaux. Bordeaux wine historians believe the estate dates back as far as the 11th century. Some ancient remnants of the original buildings can be seen close to the east pavilion on the lower portions of the property.
Chateau Olivier is actually one of the few castles in the Bordeaux region maintaining a a moat and drawbridge. In 1663, Pierre Penel, the Baron of La Brede married Marie de Lasserre. She was the daughter of the lord of Olivier. Her dowry was the vineyard Chateau Olivier. In 1882, there was a catastrophic fire and Chateau Olivier had to be rebuilt. It was reconstructed in a Troubadour style somewhat unique in the Bordeaux region. In 1867, Chateau Olivier was purchased by the mayor of Bordeaux, Alexandre de Bethmann. The de Bethmann family, which has their ancestral roots in Germany, own a very large banking operation, Bethmann Bank and remain owners today.
In 1953, the chateau, its outbuildings, moat and fountains, were all classified as historic monuments. For a period of time, the negociant firm of Eschenhauer managed the wine making and sales, under a lease agreement which was terminated in 1981. Jean-Jacques de Bethmann managed Chateau Olivier until July, 2012, when he died and was succeeded by his son, American born and educated, Alexandre de Bethmann, who has overseen a noticeable increase in quality, especially in their white wines.
Chateau Olivier is quite large at 220 hectares. However it is important to note that only 60 hectares are under vine. For the red wine, 52 hectares are planted to 58% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot. Previously there was 10% Cabernet Franc planted. However all those Cabernet Franc vines have been removed. For the white Bordeaux wine of Chateau Olivier, 8 hectares of vines are planted to 78% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon and 2% Muscadelle.
The terroir of Chateau Olivier is gravel with clay and limestone in the topsoil. The red wine grapes are planted in the gravelly, sandy soils. Most of the white wine grapes are planted in the cooler, limestone and clay terroir. They have hillsides that rise to 55 metres in height.
The vines for both red and white wine are planted to a vine density that varies from 8,000 to 10,000 vines per hectare. Extensive replanting has taken place in the vineyards, so the younger vines are now planted to the higher levels of vine density.
The red wines are vinified in temperature controlled, stainless steel vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank. The wines of Chateau Olivier are aged in an average of 30% new French oak barrels for between 12 and 14 months.
Chateau Olivier produces close to 20,000 cases of red Bordeaux wine per year and there is a second wine that is sold under two names, La Seigneurie d'Olivier and Dauphin d'Olivier.
© 2024 Bid for Wine. All rights reserved.
![[July Lot 41] Olivier Leflaive Puligny Montrachet Les Perrieres 2002 [10 bottles]](https://resize.bidforwine.co.uk//resized/images/w400/lots/1/82454.jpg)
![[February Lot 76] Auxey-Duresses Blanc Olivier Leflaive 2014 [OC of 12 bottles]](https://resize.bidforwine.co.uk//resized/images/w400/lots/1/80971.jpg)
