Château Fonrazade

The History of Chateau Fonrazade

Château Fonrazade belonged for decades to the Count of Cordes, before being bought by Guy Balotte in 1958. His only daughter, Fabienne Balotte, took over the running of the estate in 1989. Passionate since her childhood about the cultivation of the vine and the making of wine, she used to watch over the evolution of the growth of the grapes in the vineyard, to take an interest in her father's know-how in the field and to follow all the stages of the making in the cellar and in the winery.

Fabienne Balotte is also a horse lover. Anyone who visits Château Fonrazade can see them grazing peacefully on the estate. She links this passion to the memory of her maternal grandmother, Renée, who used to go to work on horseback in her vineyard near Saint André de Cubzac.

Fabienne Balotte manages the estate with the support of her engineer husband, Lucien Giol. She follows its production from start to finish, from the cultivation of the grapes, to its marketing.

The Château Fonrazade vineyard

The Chateau Fonrazade vineyard is located at the foot of the hill, on the southwestern slope of the Mazerat hillside. It is located less than a kilometer south of the medieval heart of Saint Emilion and is adjacent to the First Grand Cru Classé Château Angélus. It extends over 13 hectares, on a soil composed mainly of brown sands.

The vineyard of Château Fonrazade is mainly composed of Merlot, representing 75% of the vines. The remaining 25% are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, a rather original grape variety in this region which often prefers Cabernet Franc. This particularity brings a very specific character to the Château Fonrazade wine.

The average age of the vines is 40 years.

The vineyard of Château Fonrazade is led in a reasoned viticulture, avoiding chemical treatments and privileging the work of the ground and the use of natural products. The harvest is manual, as is the final selection in the cellar, in order to preserve the integrity of the fruit.

The wine of Château Fonrazade

Château Fonrazade offers a wine classified as a Grand Cru Saint Émilion of character. It has the typical characteristics of Saint Émilion wines, but is nevertheless distinguished by its impetuosity.

The wine of Château Fonrazade has an intense and bright color, a deep red filled with ruby reflections. It can be glazed with purple reflections during its first years. Its nose is generous and very fruity, dominated by the aromas of red fruits and black cherries.

The mouth is full-bodied, velvety and fresh. We find ripe fruits which are prolonged on finely spiced flavors. The tasting ends with a long aromatic persistence.

The wine of Château Fonrazade lends itself perfectly to long ageing.