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Chateau Fombrauge |
| Newstime£º2009-10-10 07:05:40 Befrom£º Writer£º |
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History
The chartreuse of Chateau Fombrauge was built in 1410 by the descendant of Sir Robert de Knolles, which makes it one of the oldest in Saint-Emilion. The beautiful 17th century country manor was originally the cloister of the town's Carthusian Monastery. Owned by Jacques de Canolle in 1466. The chartreuse was first surrounded by vineyards in 1615, and its famous sundial was built in 1679. The estate later belonged to the Dumas de Fombrauge family, who made it a shining example of applied viticulture in the 18th century. Since 1999 Chateau Fombrauge is owned by Bernard Magrez who also run Pape Clement (Pessac-Leognan) and Chateau La Tour Carnet. Fombrauge is the largest estate in the Saint-Emilion area, with 75 hectares facing limestone plateau and located far west of the Saint-Emilion appellation.
Nowadays¡¯ owner: Bernard Magrez
Vineyard magnate Bernard Magrez, whose holdings encompass 21 properties in the Bordeaux region, including legendary Chateau Pape-Clement, and 11 other properties throughout the world, is the man behind this little superstar of a wine. As with all of his properties, everything is done by hand with the help of oenologist consultant Michel Rolland. They make a fabulously rich and concentrated wine from poor soil that is made for winegrowing.
Technique Information
Location: Saint-Christophe-des-Bardes
Appellation: Appellation Saint-Emilion Controlee
Neighboring Chateau:
Acreage: 58 for a total 75 hectares estate.
Soil:
Clay-limestone on asteriated limestone with localized presence of iron pan and Fronsac molasses on the hilly part of the vineyard and at the foot of the hill.
Le Sublime du Chateau Fombrauge Blanc Liquoreux: Clay-limestone on asteriated limestone.
Le Cadran du Chateau Fombrauge Rose: Clay-limestone and Fronsac molasses.
Grape Varieties:
Red wine: 77% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14%Cabernet Franc on 57 hectare
Chateau Fombrauge(First Label): 71%Merlot, 11%Cabernet Sauvignon and 18%Cabernet Franc.
Le Cadran du Chateau Fombrauge(Second Label): 77%Merlot, 9%Cabernet Sauvignon and 14%Cabernet Franc.
Le Cadran du Chateau Fombrauge Rose(Second Label Rose): 60%Merlot, 20%Cabernet Sauvignon and 20%Cabernet Franc.
White wine: 41% Suvignon Blanc, 33% Semillon, 21%Sauvignon Gris and 5% Muscadelle on 1 hectare
Chateau Fombrauge White(First Label White): 41%Suvignon Blanc, 33%Semillon, 21%Sauvignon Gris and 5% Muscadelle.
Le Sublime du Chateau Fombrauge Blanc Liquoreux: 30%Suvignon Blanc, 55%Sauvignon Gris and 15%Semillon.
Average age of vines: 30 years (5 years for white, 29 years for rose).
Cultivation Density: 6,500 vines per hectare.
Viticulture: Traditional Bordeaux pruning with two canes. Complete green cover between the vine rows. Bud thinning, leaf thinning and green harvesting if necessary.
Winemaking:
Chateau Fombrauge & Le Cadran du Chateau Fombrauge:
The grapes are hand-picked into small crates and sorted on a specially-equipped table before and after destemming. They are then put into wooden vats by gravity flow. Pre-fermentation maceration. Manual punching down. The wine is run off into French oak barrels, 60% of which are new.
Chateau Fombrauge White:
The grapes are hand-picked into small crates and sorted on a specially-equipped table before and after destemming. They are then put into wooden vats by gravity flow. Pre-fermentation maceration. Manual punching down. The wine is run off into French oak barrels.
Le Sublime du Chateau Fombrauge Blanc Liquoreux:
The grapes are hand-picked into small crates and sorted on a table. Skin maceration. Pneumatic pressing. Winemaking in new oak barrels and it is aged on thin lees for 8 to 10 months.
Le Cadran du Chateau Fombrauge Rose:
The grapes are initially sorted in the vineyard and handpicked into small crates, then they are sorted on a specially equipped table before and after destemming. Low temperature for fermentation and ageing on the lees.
Yield: 30 to 40 hl per hectare (Except 48 hl for Le Sublime du Chateau Fombrauge Blanc Liquoreux, 41 hl for rose).
Brands:
Chateau Fombrauge(First Label) (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru)
Chateau Fombrauge White(First Label White)(A.O.C. Bordeaux)
Le Cadran du Chateau Fombrauge(Second Label)(Saint-Emilion Grand Cru)
Le Sublime du Chateau Fombrauge Blanc Liquoreux(A.O.C. Bordeaux)
Le Cadran du Chateau Fombrauge Rose(Second Label Rose)(A.O.C. Bordeaux)
Annually Production: Chateau Fombrauge (First Label): 180,000 bottles.
Chateau Fombrauge White(First Label White): 3,500 battles.
Character:
Best Vintages:
Awards:
Chateau Fombrauge(First Label):
Vintage 2003: Gold Medal at 2005 Paris competition.
Noted 90-93 by Robert Parker.
Vintage 2001: Gold medal at 2004 Bordeaux and 2003 Brussels competitions.
Chateau Fombrauge White(First Label White):
Vintage 2004: Silver Medal at 2005 Paris competition.
Website: www.fombrauge.com
www.bernard-magrez.com
Serving Suggestion
Chateau Fombrauge(First Label):
Cellar Humidity and Temperature: 70-90%£¬14-18 ¡æ¡£
Serving Temperature: 17-19¡æ¡£
Optimum Drinking and Ageing Potential: 5-12 years.
Chateau Fombrauge White(First Label White):
Cellar Humidity and Temperature: 70-90%£¬8-10¡æ¡£
Serving Temperature: 8-10¡æ¡£
Optimum Drinking and Ageing Potential: 5-10 years.
Le Cadran du Chateau Fombrauge(Second Label):
Cellar Humidity and Temperature: 70-90%£¬14-18 ¡æ¡£
Serving Temperature: 16-18¡æ¡£
Optimum Drinking and Ageing Potential: 5-8 years.
Le Sublime du Chateau Fombrauge Blanc Liquoreux:
Cellar Humidity and Temperature:
Serving Temperature: 6-9¡æ¡£
Optimum Drinking and Ageing Potential:
Le Cadran du Chateau Fombrauge Rose(Second Label Rose):
Cellar Humidity and Temperature: 70-90%£¬10-14 ¡æ¡£
Serving Temperature: 10-14¡æ¡£
Optimum Drinking and Ageing Potential: 4 years.
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