Wine Advisor
De Fieuzal, Blanc 2013
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A blend of 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Semillon, the bouquet attired upon the de Fieuzal Blanc has perfumed with tinned apricot and lemon sherbet that billows with aeration. The aromatics seem well integrated with the 40% new oak and the addition of acacia barrels adds another level of complexity (incidentally, all primeur samples of this particular wine were drawn from new acacia barrels.) The palate is fresh on the entry with a dab of spice on the tip of the tongue, the acacia component influencing the finish that is phenolic and effervescent. This will be interesting to examine after bottling. Tasted April 2014.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Possibly the greatest Fieuzal since the legendary 1985, the 2013 boasts a light straw color with a greenish hue as well as a stunning perfume of tangerine oil, orange marmalade, citrus and honeysuckle. Surprisingly full, rich, exuberant and borderline flamboyant, this is a stunning white Graves to consume over the next 20+ years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2013 De Fieuzal Blanc has quite a candied nose with hints of brown sugar lurking behind that veneer of tropical fruit. For Fieuzal I find this refreshingly vivacious in style. That comes through on the palate with nectarine and peach skin, a keen line of acidity with a slightly overworked finish that is more phenolic than its peers. It needs 3 or 4 years in bottle to really show its mettle, though instinct tells me that it will be worth waiting for.
About the Producer
Chateau de Fieuzal is located in the Pessac-Leognan appellation of Graves, Bordeaux, and is one of the 16 Grand Cru Classés of Graves. Today, Château Fauzelle's vineyard covers 85 hectares on the gentle slopes of Pessac-Léognan, one of the most privileged plots of land in the appellation. The terroir of the vineyard is treasured by Château Fauzelle, and in order to protect the microbiological system and biodiversity of the vineyard, organic and ecological practices are practised in the vineyard, such as the planting of flowers, beehives and vegetable gardens around the plots. This type of farming reduces pests and diseases and also provides green manure for the vines. In terms of winemaking, only grapes that have reached optimum ripeness are used to make wine. In the winery, fermentations are carried out in fermenting vessels of different sizes for the different varieties of grapes from different plots, so that the characteristics of the fruit can be fully expressed in the wine. Thanks to these measures, the wines retain the original characteristics of the grapes intact and thus faithfully express the excellent terroir of Pessac-Léognan. The wines of Château Fauzelle are of the highest quality, with aromatic and spirited red wines and elegant white wines, often scoring 90 points or more from leading wine critics and wine assessment agencies.
