Overview

Chateau Bernadotte takes its name from a previous owner, Marshal Bernadotte, who had connections to royalty. Marshal Bernadotte was appointed the Sovereign Prince by Napoleon I. However, the vineyard was not always known as Bernadotte. In fact, that name is quite recent. Prior to 1997, the estate was known as Chateau Fournas. The name was changed in 1997 when what we know of as Chateau Bernadotte was purchased by Madame de Lencquesaing from Curt Eklund. Curt Eklund acquired the estate in 1973, along with 10 hectares of vines in Pauillac.

This was not the first vineyard that was managed by de Lencquesaing. May Eliane de Lencquesaing was already quite experienced in Bordeaux by that time as she was the owner of Chateau Pichon Lalande in Pauillac. The following year after taking over the estate, two things took place. The 10 hectares of vines that came with the deal were integrated into Pichon Lalande. Next, May Eliane de Lencquesaing ordered a complete renovation of Chateau Bernadotte. The entire property was rebuilt from top to bottom. The Chateau, vat rooms, grape reception area and cellars were all modernized. In the vat rooms, they increased the number of vats to 23. This allowed Chateau Bernadotte to vinify in thermoregulated vats on a parcel by parcel basis for the first time.

The vineyards also received extensive improvements and replanting of several parcels. The amount of Merlot planted in the vineyards was also increased from 36% to 44%, which helped soften and round out the wine. In 2007, Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac and the two properties in St. Estephe, Chateau de Pez and Haut Beausejour were purchased by the Roederer Champagne house from May Eliane de Lencquesaing. Since the purchase by the Rouzaud family, headed by Frederic Rouzaud, the wines of Chateau Bernadotte began showing a marked improvement in style and quality. In December 2012, Chateau Bernadotte was sold to the King Power Group.

In 2015, Hubert de Bouard came on board as a consultant. The 44 hectare Left Bank vineyard of Chateau Bernadotte is planted to 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. This represents on-going changes in the vineyard with more Cabernet Sauvignon being added. There are plans to slowly increase the Petit Verdot as well. The terroir is gravel and sand with some clay in the soil on sloping hillsides, which rise to 31 meters at their peak.

On average, the vines are 25 years of age. The vines are planted to a density of 6,500 vines per hectare. Harvests are done by machine. Vinification takes place in 23, large, temperature controlled, stainless steel vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank. The wines of Chateau Bernadotte are then aged in 30% new, French oak barrels for 12 to 18 months, depending on the quality and character of the vintage. On average, the large Medoc vineyard produces close to 20,000 cases of Chateau Bernadotte per year. The estate also makes a second wine, Le Fournas Bernadotte.