Chateau Fargueirol Chateauneuf du Pape
The characteristic terroir of Châteauneuf comes from a layer of stones called “galets” (pebbles). The rocks are remnants of Alpine glaciers that have been smoothed over millennia by the Rhône. The stone retains heat during the day and releases it at night which can have an effect of hastening the ripening of grapes. The stones can also serve as a protective layer to help retain moisture in the soil during the dry summer months.
60% Grenache, 20% Syrah 10% Mourvédre and a 10% mix up of all the other 12 permitted varietals! Each varietal is vinified separately with 6-9 months maturation in large oak barrels. Black cherry and spice nose, long and fruity palate, leathery finish.
About the Producer
Chateau Fargueriol
Château Fargueirol is one of Châteauneuf du Pape’s oldest estates. It was mentioned as early as the 17th Century in the archives of the village. It then belonged, as a farm surrounded by vineyards, to the Revoltier family, under the direct jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Avignon. The Revoltier family had to leave Fargueirol during the French revolution, settling in Courthèzon, and nearly 200 years passed before the family returned.
In 1974, in the midst of a financial wine crisis, Joseph Revoltier bought Fargueirol – largely abandoned and its 10ha of vines neglected – back into family hands. After costly renovation work the castle, which was falling into ruin, was restored (today, only part of the original Château remains – following the revolution Fargueirol was burned and pillaged). The vines underwent uprooting, new plantings and above all grafting. In the ’80s and ’90s there was further expansion with more work carried out in order to plant vines in limestone areas of scrubland.
The estate‘s current size is 30ha in AOP Chateauneuf du Pape (including 13 hectares on one of the best soils of the appellation, the alluvial terraces dating from the Quaternary era, also known as “rolled pebbles”, located around the castle); and 10ha in the clay-limestone terroirs of replanted scrubland plus 8ha in AOP Côtes du Rhône and 2 ha in IGP Méditerranée – currently at rest.
Château Fargueirol basks in its exceptional location in the north of the Appellation, surrounded by vines at slight altitude with a splendid view of Mont Ventoux, the Rhône river and the castle of Châteauneuf du Pape.
The Revoltier family are currently in the 7th generation of winegrowers. Fargueirol is a family property rooted in the countryside, in tradition and in winemaking. Work in the vineyard, in the cellar and in sales is all done by the family – other than drawing on seasonal workers only during peaks of activity (harvest and pruning).
They perpetuate ‘ancestral’ methods: eg manual and carefully sorted harvests, winemaking respectful of tradition and family know-how – while using modern techniques when appreciating “efficient” innovation.
Since 2019, the Domaine has been certified High Environmental Value. HVE certification promotes environmentally friendly practices at the level of the entire agricultural operation, covering concerns over water management as well as fertilisation, plant protection and the preservation of biodiversity. It certifies that elements of biodiversity (hedges, grass strips, trees, flowers, insects, etc.) are very widely present on the farm and that the pressure of agricultural practices on the environment (air, climate, water, soil, biodiversity, landscapes) is reduced to a minimum.
