Dr Axel Marchal

For the first time, we’re complementing our Hall of Fame award with a brand new category recognising an up-and-coming talent who will make a real difference to the future of wine

- GEORGINA HINDLE

Over its 37-year history, the Decanter Hall of Fame award has recognized many legendary figures in the world of wine, often marking the pinnacle of a long and impressive career. But where are future Hall of Fame recipients going to come from? This year, for the first time, we try to answer that question, highlighting an up-and-coming talent.

So welcome to this year’s Rising Star award, and congratulations to its first recipient, Dr. Axel Marchal. He may well be unfamiliar even to many who love the wines of Bordeaux, where he is based. And yet, at 37, he has already had a major impact on the wines of the region and beyond.

His dedication to the analysis of wine using groundbreaking science, his passion and aptitude for teaching the winemakers of tomorrow and his tasting skills, his intuitive winemaking and consultancy put him in a unique position among wine professionals. He is already a Doctor of Oenology, a full professor at Bordeaux University’s Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences (ISVV) and a consultant to 24 estates across France, and one in Italy, taking over from his mentor and hero, the late French winemaker and professor of oenology Denis Durbordieu.

‘Denis thought very highly of Axel, who was clearly one of his brightest students,’ says Philippe Castéja, winemaker, merchant, and CEO of the Castéja family business, which owns 10 Bordeaux estates including Château Batailley in Pauillac and Château Trotte Vieille in St-Emilion, both of which Marchal consults for. ‘Beyond his tremendous knowledge, Axel has a great palate, which is so important for blending. He is the new winemaker generation,’ Castéja adds.