An age-old vineyard, with an extraordinary past, present and future

The history of Quintus is closely linked to that of Saint-Emilion, one of the 
oldest winegrowing areas of the region. Perched on a limestone promontory, 
culminating at an altitude of 62 metres, Quintus offers up a breath-taking 
360-degree view across the Dordogne valley. Its topography, boasting a plateau 
and featuring north, west and south facing slopes, comprises an incredible 
abundance of micro-climates and limestone soils, especially well suited for 
extricating the finest qualities of the Merlot and Cabernet Franc grape 
varietals. 

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: 
https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8959451-chateau-quintus-grows-with-the-acquisition-of-chateau-grand-pontet/


Established in 2011, Chateau Quintus released its 10th vintage this past year, 
with its highly acclaimed 2020.

The Gallo-Romans, creators of the Saint-Emilion vineyards, traditionally named 
their fifth son Quintus ("fifth" in latin). Domaine Clarence Dillon paid 
tribute to their predecessors by naming their 5th First wine, Quintus, which 
naturally takes its place alongside the 4 exceptional red and white wines of 
Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion.  

Quintus grows with the acquisition of its close neighbour, Chateau Grand-Pontet
Chateau Quintus is acquiring Chateau Grand-Pontet, a Grand Cru Classe, located 
in an exceptional position just a few metres from the famous village of 
Saint-Emilion and only 1 km to the north of its existing parcels. This property 
is surrounded by three prestigious Premiers Grands Crus Classes: Chateaux 
Canon, Clos Fourtet and Beausejour Becot, on the Western plateau of 
Saint-Emilion.
With the addition of these parcels, Quintus also becomes one of Saint-Emilion's 
largest properties, representing 45 hectares (111 acres), 42 (104 acres) of 
which are planted in vines. The addition of this illustrious historical terroir 
offers the wine making team with ever greater possibilities for creating their 
wines from a very stringent selection at this Right bank estate. 
Grand-Pontet and the two prior estates, united over a decade to form Chateau 
Quintus, figure among the oldest and most exalted growths of Saint-Emilion and 
historically were all three featured as "Premier Cru de Saint-Emilion" in the 
Feret wine guide, published between 1908 and 1949.  

Excerpt from the Feret wine guide of 1908, concerning Mr Combrouze, then owner 
of Chateau Grand-Pontet and Mayor of Saint-Emilion: "Giving a new lease of life 
to one of the oldest Premiers Crus…"

Excerpt from the Feret wine guide of 1974: "Its unique position makes it one of 
Saint-Emilion's most beautiful sites. The very old vines that form this 
vineyard, spared by the frosts of 1956, bring out the very distinctive 
character of its wine, full of power and delicacy, whose bottles are renowned 
for the fact of their age worthiness of fifty years and more."

"In 2011, my family, our team and I expressed our ambitious goals, with our 
communicated desire to craft one of the very finest wines possible in 
Saint-Emilion. By assembling some of the most promising parcels and terroirs we 
would attempt to create a new star of the Right bank; Quintus. After more than 
10 vintages, I am proud to say that our exceptional winemaking team are 
excelling at meeting this challenge. The addition of this promising terroir at 
Grand-Pontet, not only re-affirms our deep commitment to this venture but also 
provides our oenologists with a larger and more diverse palette to be able to 
realise our shared dream." Prince Robert de Luxembourg - Chairman & CEO

Mariette Veyssiere, appointed as new Manager of Chateau Quintus 
Prince Robert of Luxembourg – Chairman & CEO of Domaine Clarence Dillon - and 
Jean-Philippe Delmas – Managing Director Wines and Estates – announce the 
appointment of Mariette Veyssiere as Manager of Quintus.  

Mariette Veyssiere represents the 5th generation of the Veyssiere family 
devoted to the terroir of Saint-Emilion. Having honed her skills through 
numerous work experiences at Chateau Haut-Brion, Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion, 
Petrus, Chateau Latour and in California, Mariette joined the team at Chateau 
Quintus at the end of 2013. Initially charged with QSE (Quality Security & 
Environment) her knowledge and responsibilities have evolved naturally over the 
years. She inspires a progression in winegrowing methods at the estate. The 
continuous efforts of all the Quintus teams involved in these environmental 
procedures have been rewarded by the estate obtaining dual certification: High 
Environmental Value (HEV) in 2018 and ISO 14001 in 2019.

All of these environmental considerations are shared by the Pourquet-Becot 
family, whose team will now join the Quintus family under the new management of 
Mariette Veyssiere.

Phenomenal biodiversity

The environmental specificity of Chateau Quintus lies in its Mediterranean 
Green Belt, a true haven of biodiversity. The sublime natural gardens and 
terraces of Quintus, representing two hectares, are enchanting from the very 
the first glance. These boast numerous hedgerows, majestic holm oaks, low stone 
walls and verdant escarpments. These treasures of the landscape heritage that 
surround the plots of vines are important shelters for natural allies, vital to 
the success of the vineyard.

The recent inventory of the profusion of auxiliary fauna and flora of the 
property, carried out with the assistance of a doctor of entomology and 
landscape ecology, reveals a rare abundance of species: 800 types of auxiliary 
fauna gathered, divided into 200 different species and 80 varieties of wild 
flower were counted at the estate.

To supplement these natural assets and enrich this breeding ground of 
biodiversity, the vineyard workers sow wild flowers on fallow land on the 
escarpments of the hillside slope, and in plots where vines have just been 
uprooted. They also plant hedgerows of local varieties, creating ecological 
corridors in the less wooded areas.

In order to protect this biodiversity, no insecticide product has been used at 
the property since 2017. 

About Domaine Clarence Dillon 

Established in 1935, the family-run company Domaine Clarence Dillon is owner of 
several prestigious wine estates, Chateau Haut-Brion, Chateau La Mission 
Haut-Brion and Chateau Quintus. In 2005, Clarence Dillon Wines, one of 
Bordeaux's most significant fine wine merchant was founded while also creating 
Bordeaux's premier super premium family of wines; Clarendelle. Domaine Clarence 
Dillon also owns a Parisian residence, truly an embassy for the French art of 
living, so highly prized by its Chairman and CEO, Prince Robert of Luxembourg. 
This houses the two-starred gastronomic restaurant, Le Clarence and La Cave du 
Chateau, an exceptional retail and e-tail shop selling the finest wines and 
spirits from France's terroirs (www.lcdc.wine). In 2018, Prince Robert of 
Luxembourg and Domaine Clarence Dillon joined "Primum Familiae Vini" (Leading 
Wine Families), an international association bringing together 12 families, 
owners of prestigious estates and domains producing some of the world's finest 
wines.  In September of 2021, a new visitor centre and wine shop were opened at 
Chateau Haut-Brion in Bordeaux.

Contact: c.riffaud@domaineclarencedillon.com 
 
Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1634382/Chateau_Grand_Pontet.jpg 
Logo -  https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1634381/Chateau_Quintus_Logo.jpg

SOURCE: Domaine Clarence Dillon, Chateau Quintu