Palate

Château Fonréaud’s 2012 vintage is gourmet: delicious fruit aromas, a velvety structure, a remarkable harmony.

The wine is soft, round, juicy and one of their better examples in this vintage. Dark
ruby/purple, with loads of cassis and black cherry, it is earthy and spicy.

Growing Conditions

The flower took place in variable climatic conditions causing a delay and heterogeneity of maturity on some plots. Spring and summer with contrasting weather demanded increased monitoring of the vineyard. Maturation was slow but favored by the mild temperatures of autumn. The reasoned management of the vineyard: soil cultivation, weedings, adapted leafing, duplication have allowed to regulate the load of each foot and to lead the grape to maturity. In the end, a very nice surprise!

- Sustainable viticulture: Terra Vitis
- Soil type: Gravelly Pyrenean soil covering a limestone subsoil.
- Area: 32 hectares

The vines are cultivated according to environmentally friendly growing
practices, respecting both the plant and its environment. Vine care constantly
ensures that a balance is maintained between the plant and its environment in view
of achieving well-aired foliage and a regular load of grapes, which gradually ripen in
the sunshine. Depending on their nature, the parcels are ploughed or grassed over
between the rows.

Harvest

The harvest lasted 15 days and ended on October 16th, just before a period of torrential rains.

Winemaking

The vinification went smoothly, helped by moderate alcohol content and mild outdoor temperatures. After 3 weeks of maceration, the wines softened and became sweeter. The Merlots are colorful, round and ample with beautiful aromas of ripe fruit. Cabernets sauvignons are concentrated in color and structure, with red fruit nose and peppery notes.

The aging in barrels has perfected this promising balance.

A strict selection of the parcels and the grapes takes place
during the harvest. After a gentle crushing and destemming of the grapes, the must
is put into small-thermoregulated vats ensuring that the fermentations are perfectly
controlled, bringing out the expression, the richness and the nuances of each plot.
The vatting period lasts 20 to 25 days depending on the vintage.

Aging

: Maturing lasts around 12 months in merrian oak barrels, a 1/3 of which are
replaced each year. We then undertake the final blending before bottling at the
chateau.

- 30% new oak barrels