Chateau de Fieuzal

Château de Fieuzal is located in Léognan, within the Pessac-Léognan appellation in Bordeaux. The estate received the ‘Cru Classé de Graves’ status for its red wines in 1959 and is also renowned for its dry white wines. Since 2001, the estate is owned by an Irish family, and its winemaking style has been partly shaped by New World influences. Because of that, Fieuzal is something different from the mainstream Bordeaux wines.

History

These lands have been cultivated for over 400 years. In 1864, the estate was named Fieuzal in honour of the last descendant of the Fieuzal family. A significant moment came in 1893 when, according to reports, a vintage of Fieuzal found its way onto Pope Leo XIII’s table in the Vatican.

The red wine was classified as a Grand Cru in 1959. In the 19th century, the estate was divided into two separate estates, Château de Fieuzal and Haut-Gardère, which were reunited in 1995.

In 2001, the Irish couple Brenda and Lochlan Quinn purchased the estate and have owned it ever since. A total of five families have shaped Fieuzal over the course of four centuries.

Vineyards

The vineyard covers around 75 hectares and is divided into 74 separate plots. Around 65 hectares are planted with red varieties, and 10 hectares with white. The entire estate is surrounded and protected by 30 hectares of woodland. Around 600,000 vines are grown on the estate, and a transition to organic and biodynamic farming is currently underway.

Terroir

The soils consist of a classic deep, gently sloping gravel layer on a sandy base, which gave the Grave appellation its name. This combination ensures good drainage, retains heat and allows the production of wines that possess both richness and freshness. Gravelly, mineral soils are particularly well-suited to white wine, placing Fieuzal among the finest producers of dry white Bordeaux wines.

Winemaking

All grapes are harvested by hand. The winery has 10 oak vats, 44 stainless steel vats and 16 concrete vats, each named after one of the Quinn family’s 17 grandchildren. Winemaker Stephen Carrier, with over 30 years’ experience, including influences from Champagne and the New World, ferments each vineyard block separately to preserve its individual character. The white grapes are pressed whole-bunch using long, gentle cycles.

The wines are then aged in an underground cellar housing over 800 French oak and acacia barrels for approximately 12 months before blending. The white wine is aged partly in 225-litre French oak barrels, partly in 400-litre acacia barrels, and partly in stainless steel vats, depending on the vintage and the plot.

Wines

Fieuzal produces two types of wine.

The grand vin, Château de Fieuzal, is produced in both red and white versions. The white Château de Fieuzal, although not included in the 1959 classification, is widely regarded as one of the finest white wines of this appellation.

The second wine, L'Abeille de Fieuzal, also produced in red and white versions, is made from grapes from the same vineyards and with the same care, but is intended for earlier consumption.