Our
Story

In the Haut-Médoc, where tradition often weighs heavily, Château Charmail stands out. Perched on a gentle rise overlooking the Gironde River, the estate's history is as rich as the wines it produces. Its story began in the 16th century, when the Trevey de Charmail family first settled in the Médoc. Its fame, however, truly blossomed in the 1750s, when its wines were served at the court of Louis XV, decades before the founding of the United States.

Its wines are the reflection of this journey, drawing from the past while looking boldly to the future. But how did this estate grow into the beloved name it is today? The story of Château Charmail unfolds over centuries, shaped by families, passion, and the enduring character of the land itself.

1500s
1982
2008
2012
2021
1500s
1500s

The
Founding Family

The estate’s known history dates back to the 16th century, in 1520. The oldest buildings on the property belonged to the former seigneury of Bardis, which included the estates of Châteaux Verdus and Bardis. In 1612, the Trevey family appeared, inheriting Bardis that same year, and their descendants remained owners until the 18th century.

Vine cultivation began during this period, and it took time to understand all the subtleties and strengths of this land, full of character and freedom. The Trevey de Charmail family adopted the motto “Charmail suis, au diable le reste!” (“Charmail I am, to hell with the rest!”), as if nothing else mattered when standing before the beauty and serenity of these surroundings.

Over the years, the names of the buildings changed, the properties passed from hand to hand, and underwent several transformations. Ultimately, it was Château Charmail, with its distinctive 19th-century square château, that prevailed. With around twenty hectares, the quality of its terroir and production gave it the strength to take the lead over its original neighboring lands.

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1982
1982

The Charmail
Renaissance

Owned by successive families, including the Fabiani and Laly families, the estate was discovered in 1982 by a young agronomist who would transform Charmail into a first-class vineyard. Olivier Sèze initially took over about ten hectares and worked tirelessly to improve the health of the vines. He harmoniously developed the four grape varieties grown on the estate, with a particularly visionary approach to the potential of Petit Verdot. Through hard work, he expanded the vineyard and came to understand the site’s unique characteristics and how to bring out its best qualities.

Vintage after vintage, for nearly 30 years, he refined an innovative and delicate winemaking style that revealed Charmail’s magnificent terroir. His unwavering commitment propelled the estate to stand among the ranks of its distinguished neighboring crus.

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2008
2008

A New Era With
Bernard d'Halluin

In 2008, Bernard d’Halluin, a “Chti” who grew up drinking Bordeaux, fulfilled his dream of entering the world of wine. While searching for an estate in the Bordeaux region, he fell in love with Charmail. Sharing the same passion as Olivier Sèze, the two formed a complementary partnership for five years, dedicated to Charmail and its wines.

As sole owner until 2021, Bernard d’Halluin repurchased six hectares from the original vineyard and undertook a thoughtful modernization of the property, carried out with great restraint and elegance. He guided the estate toward environmentally respectful viticulture and helped build Château Charmail’s reputation both in France and abroad. His work crowned forty years of effort and established Charmail as a true Bordeaux reference.

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2012
2012

The Art of
balance

Young Sébastien Pineau arrived at the estate in 2007. A winemaker’s son from the Loire Valley, he benefited from an exceptional mentor in Olivier Sèze and an inspiring entrepreneur in Bernard d’Halluin, who gave him the means to reach his full potential. Quickly becoming independent, Sébastien undertook his first full vintage in 2012.

He further improved Charmail’s winemaking techniques and guided the aging of its wines toward greater suppleness and balance. In the vineyard, he championed living soils and cared deeply for the land, knowing that healthy earth is the foundation of true terroir expression. Rigorous yet inspired, Sébastien advanced Charmail through his constant work and thoughtful questioning of traditional Bordeaux methods, achieving remarkable results. Under his care, Charmail’s wines reached a level of quality never attained before.

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2021
2021

Return
to Roots

In 2021, the Goudet-Liquard family, led by Valérie Liquard and supported by her younger brother Vivien, entered a partnership with Bernard d’Halluin, bringing a deeply personal connection to the Médoc. For Valérie, this was more than an investment; it was a true homecoming. Having grown up among the vineyards of the Médoc, she had always dreamed of returning to the land that shaped her childhood. “It’s a matter of the heart,” she explained. “There is something so special about Charmail... it’s not just the land, but also the history and the future we see here. Coming back and being part of this is a dream come true.”

Her children, Augustin and Bertille, as well as her brother Vivien, share this profound connection. Both born in Bordeaux but having spent much of their lives in the United States, they had long wished to reconnect with their French roots. Château Charmail has offered them that link: a place where the family’s past, present, and future come together.

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