SURREY FINE WINES

 

CHATEAU DE FIEUZAL

Chateau de Fieuzal took its name from the Fieuzal family who were proprietors from 1851. This cru is situated on the right banks of L'Eau Blanche, a tributary of the Gironde, one of the most beautiful gravely hills of the appellation Pessac Leognan. It now ranks in the top flight of the Graves alongside Haut Brion and Domaine de Chevalier.

The property comprises approximately 50 hectares. The soil consists of white Villafranchienne gravel, which is well drained and is particularly suitable for the production of fine wine. The vineyard is situated on the highest crests of the commune, which means that the vines have unparalleled exposure to the sun ensuring optimum ripening of the grapes.

The vines are on average over 30 years old and are planted in the proportion of: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot. The proportion in the final wine will vary from this as only the very best cuvees are used in the final blend. The aim is to produce a wine each year, which expresses the individual terroir of de Fieuzal.

Biological techniques are used in the vineyards, which are managed to prevent disease by good husbandry rather than excessive use of to sprays. The grapes are hand picked and hand sorted before vinification in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. They are then aged in French oak barrels of which 50-60% are new each year. Huge investment has gone into the cellars, which have to be described as 'state of the art'.
The wines of Ch Fieuzal are rich and opulent showing finesse, delicious softness and an alluring bouquet. Good to drink after 6-8 years they are still magnificent at 15 or 20 years of age.

Chateau Haut Gardere

The owners of Chateau de Fieuzal also produce wine from Chateau Haut Gardere, which is opposite the vineyard of Fieuzal. Chateau Haut Gardere was the source of wines of great reputation in the 19th and early 20th centuries before becoming neglected during the Second World War. Feret's Bordeaux and its Wines attribute the reconstitution of the vineyard to Monsieur Gerard Subsol. The later lavished money, care and attention on the vineyard and produced his first vintage in 1979. The wines, which have an appellation Grand Vin de Graves, have improved year by year and are of the finest Graves type. They are exceptionally good value for money.

The following notes were taken by me at a tasting for our club.

Chateau Haut-Gardere 1997:The nose is intense with full, fruit aromas of cassis, spices and violets overlaid by subtle oak. On the palate there is discernible acid but the winemaker has extracted fewer tannins creating an excellent balance with the intense cassis and plum fruit flavours. These are overlaid with parma-violets, vanilla and spicy oak.The flavours are persistent on the palate and the finish is clean, elegant and long. This is exceptional value at £11.42 per bottle.

Chateau de Fieuzal 1994: On the nose the aromas are intense and showing complexity, primarily cassis but with violets, spices and toasty oak. On the palate the tannins are still firm but ripe, these are balanced in mid-palate by an intense ripe but not opulent fruit. The complex flavours of cassis, vanilla, spices and toasty oak persist throughout and are carried through to a long, lingering finish.

Chateau de Fieuzal 1995: The nose is fuller and riper than the 1994 with the same toasty oak but without the complexity, which will come with time. In the mouth the tannins are firm and ripe balanced by a rich, ripe fruit intense in flavour. The taste sensation is primarily blackberry and plums with layers of violets, almonds and well-integrated, toasty oak. The finish is clean, ripe and lingering. This is a lovely wine, drinking well but probably needs just a little more time to be at its best.

Chateau de Fieuzal 1997: The nose is full, still very youthful with blackberries, violets and subtle oak, less toasty than 1995 and 1994. Probably the less tannic 1994 or 1995 and with slightly higher acidity, which provides a balance to the intense, ripe flavours of blackberry, violets, vanilla and peppery spices. The wine is also lighter in body but shows finesse and elegance.

Chateau de Fieuzal and Chateau Haut Gardere.
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