Château Falfas, Côtes de Bourg Rouge, Bordeaux, France, 2014

Producer Profile

Château Falfas comprises of 20 hectares of prime vineyards within the Côtes de Bourg, situated on a stunning hillside in the parish of Bayon.

The handsome estate hails from the 14th century, belonging to the Lords of the Lansac, an ancient nobility swearing allegiance to the English crown at a time when the wines were exported to the court of the Edwards. Eventually in the 17th century, the property passed to the family of the President of the Parliament of Guyenne, Gaillard de Falfas, who restored the château and gave it its name. One of the first estates to practice organic and biodynamic methods, the current custodians, Véronique and John Cochran, are building on the traditions of the past with a simple philosophy, "The best wines are not made, but rather grown".

Viticulture

These noble varieties grow in soils predominantly of gravel, clay and limestone, above ancient limestone asterie (maritime), long recognised as one of the most suitable for grape growing. Here, in the temperate climate of the Gironde estuary, the organic and biodynamically farmed fruit reaches full maturity under virtually ideal conditions from the vines that average around 35 years old.

Winemaking

After a rigorous selection of the harvested grapes a traditional red wine fermentation is carried out, followed by ageing for 11 to 14 months in barrel, a 1/3 of which is new oak.

Tasting Note

Grippy and dense with structured tannins, gravelly blackcurrant fruit and lovely acidity. A little sweetness in the blackcurrant fruit, as well as pepper and sweet cherry.

Food Matching

This will always sit well with red meats, charcuterie and mushrooms.