Château Haut-Marbuzet
That Château Haut-Marbuzet exists today is the result of the consistent efforts of the Duboscq family, three generations of which have each played their part here. The first and perhaps most significant of all was Hervé Duboscq, a former railway worker who arrived in St Estèphe during the 1950s and who began acquiring the many parcels of land he was offered, building up a domaine in a piecemeal fashion. The second was his son, Henri Duboscq, a formidable figure who catapulted the property into the limelight, and who has remained involved in the running of the property through to modern times. And today we have the next generation, Hugues and Bruno, now actively running the property, albeit with their elderly father permanently hovering in the wings.
Having said that, there is more history to this property than this 1950s beginning might suggest. The origin of the estate can be traced back at least as far as the 19th century, a time when Irish immigrants to the region were playing a significant role. These were the ‘Wild Geese’, Irish families who left their homeland to seek a new life in Europe. While the term traditionally refers to those who achieved this through military service in Europe’s armies, a number of adventurous souls sought their fortunes through trade, the port of Bordeaux being an obvious location to settle. From here it was a short step north, east or south, into the region’s vineyards. Many of them – including the Lynch, Clarke and Dillon families – made the leap.
As did the MacCarthy family.
MacCarthy Origins
It was as early as 1815 that the MacCarthy family, Irish immigrants to the region, acquired land in St Estèphe. They were at this time already well established in the region, having married into well-to-do local families, and they included among their number traders and merchants in wine, and one was even elected chairman of the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce. So why not add some vineyards to their activities?
