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 Clement and has recently changed his consultant to Thomas Duclos of Château Canon fame. The 60 hectares of vines are planted with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot. Barrel ageing for 14-18 months in 65% new oak.
The 2021 de Fieuzal, a blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, has an expressive, sensual bouquet with aromas of blackberries, blackcurrant, rose, licorice and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and refined, pure and crystalline, it’s perfectly balanced with a sapid, tense and ethereal finish. Gourmand and charming, this is a superb rendition of sandy, gravelly soils. Keep it over the next decade. Drink 2023-2040.
An attractive blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot, the 2021 de Fieuzal offers up aromas of plums and raspberries mingled with hints of rose petals and sweet spices. Medium-bodied, ample and polished, it's a supple, seamless wine with a pretty core of fruit, lively acids and impressive length on the finish. Congratulations to winemaker Stephen Carrier and consultant Thomas Duclos for this compelling Pessac. Tasted three times.
Stephane Carrier has been here for 16 years and this is the first time that he has used chaptalisation. The low yield of 30 hl/ha produced a wine from 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. Picking started on 25th September and continued to 13th October. Deep ruby colour. The nose is a little closed but with air the tightly wound red cherry and dark plum fruit emerges, together with an iron-like earthiness that is very enticing. The palate has the same stony, mineral quality. Oak is not really a flavour consideration to this wine; instead it focuses on vibrant, fresh black fruit and layers of sweeter red cherries. The persistent earthiness adds a moreish complexity. Unforced and fine, this is a very good showing that should offer drinkers good value for money.
Lovely finish to this polished and fine-tannined Fieuzal with red fruit, medium body and a juicy finish.
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Fieuzal is a little closed to begin, offering subtle notes of baked plums and warm cassis with tilled loam and black pepper hints. It is light to medium-bodied in the mouth with savory laced black fruits and a grainy texture, finishing savory.
2024-2031
Peat, grilled cedar, liquorice, raspberry leaf and reducrrant fruit. Creamy texture as it opens, with precision and fine floral character to the aromatics, but the tannins are closed in tight on the finish, and it will benefit from picking up weight through the mid palate over ageing. Harvest September 18 to 29. Tasted twice.
50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot. Cask sample.
Dark crimson. Some suggestion of ripe black fruit on the nose – amazingly! Gentle, easy, almost soft(!) wine. It doesn’t seem desperately ambitious in terms of longevity but it’s sweet and well balanced. You could almost drink this particular sample tonight! Not a very serious wine but a pleasant drink.
Drink 2024 – 2032