The Beginnings

André Leclerc, médocain by birth had Lorraine origins that could be perceived by his size, the iron of character and the steel of the gaze.

His father worked in the cellars of Désiré Cordier, in Toul, when he was asked by the latter to go to Saint-Julien.

In 1922, the family moved to Médoc. A daughter was born in Toul and André Leclerc was to be born at Château Talbot. He was then raised in the local climate, of which he knew every nook and cranny.

From 1937 to 1939, he attended the Blanquefort School of Agriculture. Then he worked for Henri Lemaire (former director of Maison Cordier) at the Châteaux du Peyrat and Suau in Capian. This exile on the other side of the Garonne, in the first Côtes de Bordeaux, lasted nine years.

His uncle Merlet, former owner of the Moulin de la Bridane in Saint-Julien, gave him a few rows of vines. One or two purchases of plots will strengthen this small kingdom and extend it to half a hectare. In addition, Mr. Nomard entrusted him with thirty-five ares via tenant farming.

Château Finegrave was vinified in Château Barton, where André Leclerc worked as cellar master from 1959 until his retirement. His wine was then stored separately, with the blessing of Major Ronald who did not disdain to taste it from time to time.

Then André Leclerc retired in 1984 and began to vinify his wine in his house in Beychevelle, surely one of the first garage wines.

André Leclerc’s wine was then renowned as its master: pure and hard.

These days

Marie-Claude and Fidel Eliceche began to be involved in the estate from the beginning and then officially in 1995 with the acquisition of Mr. Nomard’s plots, and then took over from André Leclerc from 1998, upon the death of the latter.

In 2002, a new gravity cellar was built before the new expansion planned for 2021 to improve the working tool.

The strength and richness of Château Finegrave lie in the passionate family work, the pleasure of meeting and working together around this passion for wine, not to mention the immense support (including technical) of its large extended family, its many friends and Benefactor Vineyard.

Since 2021 the third generation – their children and husbands – has also officially invested in Marie-Claude and Fidel in order to structure and perpetuate this beautiful heritage that is Château Finegrave by organizing itself in society.

It is in homage to André Leclerc that the company managing Château Finegrave is now called “EARL Domaines André Leclerc”.

New beautiful pages remain to be written.