Les Chaux De Fontbonau - Red 2018
The Domaine de Fontbonau is located in Montbrison-sur-Lez, in Drôme Provençale . It was founded in 2008 by their childhood friends, Frédéric Engerer and Jérôme Malet . From their first cuvée, they cultivate and vinify according to the standards of organic farming , even nature, producing wines without sulfur or external inputs, according to a minimal intervention in the respect of the land and its traditions. Jérôme and Frédéric's wish is to create a natural ecosystem in the sustainable and protective spirit of regenerative agriculture, putting biodiversity back at the heart of the estate, through the diversification of crops and plantations, the crushing of vine shoots, the presence sheep, bees and ladybugs... They had a contemporary cellar built and created their first vintage with Sophie Mage, an agricultural engineer who worked for ten years in Fontbonau before another young enthusiast, Bertrand Degat, took over the technical management of the domain. Frédéric Engerer is also the manager of the prestigious estates of Château Latour, Domaine d'Eugénie and Château Grillet, and his expertise extends beyond the French terroir to Napa Valley. The two friends also produce olive oil, honey, lavender essential oil. The 42-hectare estate has been planted with truffle oaks and has a vegetable garden.
Les Chaux de Fontbonau is a blend of Grenache (85%) and Syrah (15%) . After the monthly harvest, the grapes are put into pre-fermentation maceration for 2 to 3 days. Fermentation lasts 4 to 5 weeks with manual punching down for gentle extraction. The press wine is added to the free run wine, then the wine is aged for 10 to 12 months in exceptional oak barrels of a wine selected by a château close to the estate located in Pauillac, and in stainless steel vats (20% ).
Grapes: 85% Grenache, 15% Syrah
