Whilst you may well associate Bordeaux with some of the world’s most famous wines (which usually come at suitably astronomical prices) the beauty of this most famous of French wine regions is that there is plenty of outstanding value to be found … if you just know where to look.
The 33 hectares of Château Lamothe-Cissac was regenerated in the 1960s by the enterprising Gabriel Fabre, who replanted the entire estate and gave everything a much-needed new lease of life. Today, his son Vincent runs things and specialises in traditional, elegant Bordeaux styles very much influenced by the estate’s location in the commune of Cissac, right next door to world-famous Pauillac.
This lovely red is a classic Bordeaux blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, both refined and generous in character. Notes of cherries and blackcurrant jam are complemented by soft spices and subtle vanilla, whilst a well-balanced palate shows soft tannins and a very delicate finish. This wine will improve wonderfully with a few more years aging in the bottle, and will develop a complex mix of leather, undergrowth and smoky notes.
The Details:
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Style: Mature, spicy, savory, black fruit, cedar
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Abv: 14%
Producer
abriel Fabre bought the historic Chateau Lamothe-Cissac in 1964 and planted vines for the next several years. His son Vincent joined him in 1982 and in 1991 Vincent and his wife Florence took over the overall management of “Domaines Fabre”. In 2013 Mélanie joined her parents, followed by her husband Nicolas, and today their youngest son Jean-Hubert is part of this winemaking family.
Although the Fabre estate dates back an impressive 4 generations, the property has a history of winemaking going back much further - 2000 years! At the end of the 19th century, a fire completely destroyed the medieval castle. Rebuilt in 1903, the original cellars and dungeons remain in the oldest parts of the buildings - it was in one of these dungeons that the skeleton of a man was found, in his hands a blade engraved with the name “London”.
This may explain why winemaking had ceased in the 1950’s when the owner was so convinced there was a treasure hidden in the château, he gradually abandoned winemaking in his efforts to find it (he never did). Perhaps the “treasure” was the land itself!Today Domaines Fabre are part of a very prestigious club of vineyards selected from among the best “Vignobles et Signatures”.
