Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesThe small appellation of Francs Cotes de Bordeaux, situated north of Castillon, can produce some impressive wines, such as this. With dark tannins and concentrated fruit, the wine, from vines planted in a former cherry orchard, is set to age. It should be ready from 2024.
Some rather grainy tannins and fresh acidity with a medium body and dark-fruit, wet-earth and mushroom character. Drink after 2022.
Barrel Sample: 88-90
This is glass staining purple, a little reduced on the nose with an austerity that takes a moment to adjust to but once it opens up, the juice and poise become clear and the mineral edge increasingly enjoyable. Perhaps not the joy of a 2015 here, but it's a good wine and should age well. Hubert de Boüard and Dominique Haverlan. Drinking Window 2021 - 2032. Barrel Sample: 90
Chateau de Francs was originally a strong military place under English domination from 115 to 1453 during the battle of Castillon. Only a small part of the castle served as a manor house, the rest was home to 300 troops with their horses and crews. The family of Segur, who had placed the castle at the disposal of the English, was compelled to sell it when the Aquitaine became French again under Henri IV.
In 1986, the estate is taken over by Hubert de Bouard de la Forest, co-owner of the Chateau Angelus and Dominique Hebrard, former co-owner of Chateau Cheval Blanc. Today, the estate has 37 hectares of vines on clay-limestone soil, close to what is found on the plateau of Saint Emilion.
In most of France, wines are named by their place of origin and not by the type of grape (with the exception of Alsace). Just like a red Burgundy is by law, always made of Pinot noir, a red Bordeaux is a blended wine composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Depending on the laws of the village from which the grapes come, the conditions of the vintage and decisions of the winemaker, the blend can be further supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and in rare cases, Carmenere. So popular and repeated has this mix of grape varieties become worldwide, that the term, Bordeaux Blend, refers to a wine blended in this style, regardless of origin.