| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Consistently good wines are produced here at this Irish-owned château. The prices remain modest despite the quality and the wines are always typically Graves in style. Strong efforts are being made here by wine-maker Stephen Carrier - who has added a cellar master previously from Pape Clément and has recently changed his consultant from Hubert de Bouard to Thomas Duclos of Château Canon fame. The vineyard is planted with 30 hectares each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and six of Petit Verdot. There is no more Cabernet Franc. Barrel ageing for 14-18 months in 65% new oak. Darragh Quinn told us that they now pick a little earlier than before here with gentler extraction - with the aim of making a fresher wine than under the previous consultancy.
The 2025 is made from 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot. Aged in 32% new oak. 12.8 degrees. Picking 4th to 26th September and the yield was 26 hl/ha
The 2025 Château de Fieuzal has an understated bouquet with red berry fruit, sous-bois and light marine scents that gradually opens up with aeration. I would have liked to have seen more vigour in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with an edgy opening. More herbaceous than expected, it almost seems there was a bit of stem addition à la Les Carmes! It does cohere a little in the glass, so I am intrigued to see how it shows in bottle, though I remain prudent with my score for now. 2028 - 2037
Bright ruby in colour, the fruit here is quite wild with hedgerow, blossom, lifted scents of strawberry and garrigue. This follows on the palate, which is edgy and unique, with a subtle earthiness. The tannins are finely structured, wrapping the fruit nicely and allowing the acidity to lead the finish.
The 2025 de Fieuzal, harvested between September 4 and 26, is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. It wafts from the glass with aromas of cassis, mulberries, wisteria and flowers. Medium- to full-bodied, layered and precise, it’s built around a fleshy core of fruit framed by velvety, finely grained tannins and concludes with a long, ethereal and perfumed finish. More structured than usual, it remains well balanced, supported by lively acidity and a subtle, gastronomic bitterness on the finish. It's a classical expression and one of the more compelling values in Bordeaux this year.
Grilled cedar and sandalwood, characterful damson fruits, with some of the squid ink salinity that is such a lovely marker of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon on the Left Bank of Bordeaux. Harvest September 4 to 26. Quinn family owners. 2034-2044.
