Discover
the vineyard
Terroir
Our terroir occupies a privileged position on the high gravel terrace of Médoc. Ideally located halfway between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde estuary, this Pyrenean gravel terrace ensures the vineyard a unique micro-climate and ideal conditions for drainage. These elements are decisive for the ripening and the quality of the grapes.
Mosaic of gravelly soils resting on an Oligocene clay-limestone base, depending on their nature, our different soils are planted in traditional Médoc grape varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon, the grape variety of deep and dry soils, Merlot, planted on slightly more nutritive soils and Petit Verdot, comfortable on warm soils.
Our commitment to Sustainable Viticulture
We are committed to a process that favors the sustainability of our vineyard, its wines and the know-how of the women and men who work on them.
Come meet us, we will show you simply:
– How and why the vines are plowed or sown with natural grasses.
– How we protect them from diseases in the Terra-Vitis philosophy.
– How wines but also corks, packaging, barrels, vats are regularly checked.
And above all, come and breathe our love of living and producing great wines in Listrac and Moulis!
The vineyard
Red grape varieties
The grape varieties cultivated on the estate are typical of the Médoc and express perfectly our terroirs from Listrac: Cabernet Sauvignon is the soul of our wines with its aromas of black fruits, its impetuousness and its structure. Merlot, brings fruity, unctuousness and greediness. Petit Verdot delivers intense color and spicy notes.
White grape varieties
Our white vineyard produces “Le” Cygne” thanks to the complementarity of three grape varieties: Sauvignon Blanc gives it its liveliness and a great variety of aromas: citrus fruits, exotic fruits, white flowers … always very intense. Sémillon gives it its roundness, its elegance with more discreet fruity flavors. The Muscadelle completes the set by bringing his style more “air”.
Fonréaud
- Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée : Listrac-Médoc
- Area: 35 Ha
- Average age of the vineyard : 22 years old
- Oldest plot (year of planting) : 1966
- Planting density : 7000 plants / hectare
Varieties in 2019
- Cabernet Sauvignon (52%)
- Merlot (44%)
- Petit Verdot (4%)
Le Cygne
- Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée : Bordeaux Blanc
- Area: 5,2 Ha
- Average age of the vineyard : 10 years old
- Oldest plot (year of planting): 1989
- Planting density : 7000 plants / hectare
Varieties in 2019
- Muscadelle (15%)
- Sauvignon Blanc (53%)
- Sémillon (32%)
The Cellar
The use, in the seventeenth century, was to have a half burried cellar in order to benefit naturally from a constant temperature. While bringing the latest improvements of modern winemaking, we have kept this ancestral principle to offer a tempered setting to our wines.
In 1999, the barrel cellar was rehabilitated and equipped with a very high quality hygrometry and temperature control.
From the vineyard to the cellar
During the whole year, the attention of the winemaker focuses on the proper development of the plant to obtain optimum maturity of the grapes when it’s time to harvest. When the grape harvests arrive, we combine our winemaking know-how in a changing tradition with an optimal search for the quality and health of the berries.
First of all, our team assisted by a brigade of grape harvesters makes a first sorting on foot before harvest, eliminating grappillons and non-qualitative clusters. After the collection, the harvest is sorted and then transported in small thermoregulated concrete vats. This way we can separate grapes from different plots, which ensures us a good control of fermentations and respects the personality of our various soils.
Ageing
When fermentations end, the wines are aged for one year in French oak barrels. Throughout this period, the different lots are regularly tasted with our oenologist, Antoine Medeville, then the final assembly can finally be realized: This is how the Château Fonréaud and the Legend of Fonréaud are born. Finally, 20 months after the harvest, the wine is bottled at the château and kept in the cellar.
For more than half a century, the estate has been dedicated to producing exceptional wines in line with the great wines produced on the Bordeaux vineyards.
Come to discover our productions, as well as a presentation of the specificities related to each vintage.
