Château Faugeres 2016

Château Faugeres is a visually stunning winery.  With an ultra-modern tasting room that was completed in 2009 by the famous architect Mario Botta, this estate is clearly one of the most cutting-edge in terms of winemaking technology in the entire Right Bank.  Château Faugeres is an incredibly old property in Saint-Émilion, but it began attracting attention when businessman and perfume industry titian, Silvio Denz purchased the estate.  He spared no expense in revitalizing the property that was on the verge of fading into obscurity, and the wine from this Grand Crus Classés couldn’t be tasting better. For those who love the richly dynamic composition of dark fruit aromas mixed with stunning earthy secondary characteristics that are so synonymous with Saint-Émilion wines, Château Faugères is a fantastic choice. 
 
Château Faugeres has an extensive history that dates to 1619.  The vineyard was originally planted by Andre Faugeres, and the estate was named after him as was typical of the time. Château Faugeres changed hands a few times between families throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.  Eventually it was acquired in the 1980s by the Guisez family, who made small improvements to the vineyards.  Château Faugeres began slowly getting recognized by critics and consumers alike, but it wasn’t until Silvio Denz acquired the property that the trajectory of this estate really took off.  Silvio Denz was encouraged to purchase the property from the legendary Stephan Von Neipperg, who now consults at the property.  For those not familiar, Stephan is the owner of the legendary estates Château Canon La Gaffeliere and La Mondotte to name a few.  Silvio Denz also enlists the talent of Michel Rolland who consults at properties like Château Ausone.  With the combination of the top talent and technological innovation, Château Faugeres was classified as a Grand Crus Classé estate in 2012. 
 
The property hosts a sprawling 49 hectare vineyard on a mixture of clay and limestone soils.  The vineyard itself is located on the Castillon plateau just on the edge of Saint-Émilion and there is relatively high elevation at the property, coming in at 80 meters.  Interestingly enough, some of the plots used for the wine Cap de Faugeres are sourced from the Castillon appellation.  Château Faugeres is home to a mixture of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a small portion of Cabernet Sauvignon.  Château Faugeres has some incredible neighbors, including Valandraud and Château Fleur Cardinal. The climate is slightly cooler here, which translates to a later harvest time.  The vines are on the older side and are approximately 35 years of age.  Château Faugeres prides itself on the amount of work done in the vineyard, and the commitment to environmental sustainability at the estate is nothing short of admirable.  The modern, gravity-flow winery preserves the softness of the wine, and the entire winemaking process is about gentle extractions.  The wine is then aged in French oak barrels, 50 percent of which are new.  This rich, intense wine requires a bit of ageing – approximately 6-8 years - prior to being enjoyed.

"The 2016 Faugeres is composed of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 50% new and 50% one-year-old barrels for 15 months. Deep garnet-purple colored, it features baked blueberries, stewed black plums and black cherry compote with hints of spearmint, cigar box and new leather. The palate is medium to full-bodied and laced with black fruit and savory layers with a chewy frame, finishing long with a fragrant earth lift. 6,000 cases produced."- Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (11/30/2018, Interim Issue), Ratings: 92, Drink: 2019-2035

"The 2016 Faugeres is a blend of 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon matured in 60% new oak. It has a ripe black cherry and cassis scented bouquet, just a touch of volatility although that should disappear by the time it is in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied with a gentle grip on the entry. This has good backbone and fresh acidity, nicely focused with a taut, quite linear finish that feels more restrained and classic in style than previous vintages. Superb." - Neal Martin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (4/28/2017, Issue 230), Ratings: 92-94, Drink: 2023-2045