Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France
Château de Fieuzal has passed through may hands over the centuries, including the aristocratic Rochefoucaulds, during the Revolution. The vineyard, is a more recent addition and was established int eh early 19th century, gradually becoming the predominant agricultural activity on an estate, which had previously been more used for forestry. In the early 19th century, the vineyards were the property of the Fieuzal family, who owned this estate and the neighboring Haut-Gardère. These were sold to the Griffon brothers, one of whom was consul to Pope Léon XIII in Bordeaux. The 1893 vintage was reputed to have filled the Vatican’s cellars during this period. That same year, however, the Griffon familygave up the estate and sold it to Abel Ricard, whose family already had an interest in nearby Domaine de Chevalier.
During this period, there was phylloxera, world war and widespread economic depression, so the estate went into decline. Abel’s daughter, Odette and her husband took control after Abel dies in World War II and worked to replant the vineyard, primarily with whites - Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillion. A few years later, in 1953, the Graves classification was drawn up and the estate’s red wines were ranked, but their whites were not. When Odette and her husband died in 1973, the property was sold to Georges Négrevergne. They ran the estate for 20 years, before selling to Banques Populaires. The family remained to run the operation with the backing of the new owners. Finally, Lochlann Quinn, owner of Allied Irish Banks, acquired the property in 2001.
There are 48 hectares of vineyards lying around thechâteau, 39 hectares of red vines, 9 hectares of white, all planted on gravelly-sandy soils originating from the Quaternary period, as is typical of the region. The red varieties planted are predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon which accounts for 60%, with 33% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot, whereas the white varieties are a rather simpler mix of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc planted in equal proportions.