Château Fontesteau Médoc

The Château Fontesteau Médoc is classified as Cru Bourgois Supérieur winery and is located in the heart of the Médoc. It stands for outstanding Bordeaux wines that mature for years in the cellars of the house. Of the 100 hectares of cultivated land, about 35 hectares belong to the winery. These are cultivated by Dominique Fouin.

The combination of traditional cultivation methods and state-of-the-art technology produces wines that consistently reach a top level. Since 1997, the château has belonged to the Bernard-Massard group. The many years had left their mark on the old building and so it was completely renovated. A new barrel cellar (Chais) was built in the farm buildings.

Vinification and barrique cellar

Contrary to what the name suggests, the cellar is above ground, just like the traditional chais in Bordeaux. The special construction guarantees the best conditions for ageing throughout the year. The grapes are selected, pressed and fermented separately by grape variety. This guarantees that the typical characteristics of the grape variety and the character of the wine are preserved during the process. Afterwards the wine stays in the tanks for another 2-3 weeks to get colour and tannins. The wine is tasted daily to ensure that the optimal time for further processing is chosen. The young wine is then allowed to mature for another 12 months in barriques, where the fruit aromas combine with the vanilla aromas of the toasted wooden barrel. It is also recommended that the classified red wines be kept in bottles for another year or two until they reach their final drinking maturity.

History of the Château

The Château Fontesteau Médoc was built in 1277. It takes its name from seven springs, all of which feed the small stream that runs through the property. There are a number of stories about the Château , some of which are documented, but many of which have been passed down from generation to generation. It is certainly documented that many pilgrims on their way to Santiago di Compostella crossed the château, as in some places you can still find the pilgrim or scallop shells.

The Haut-Médoc wine region

The Haut-Médoc as a wine region  is located in the southern part of the French Bordeaux region Médoc. On a total area of  about 4,300 hectares, about 300 winegrowers produce the unique wines. The terraces with alluvial deposits of gravel are good and easy for Cabernet, while the deep and clayey soils are favorable for Merlot. In addition, the following grape varieties are still permitted for the region:

• Cabernet Franc
• Malbec and
• Petit Verdot