1996 Chateau de Fargues Sauternes Lur Saluces, Sauternes, Bordeaux

ABOUT THIS WINE

The first wave of picking began on the 8th of September. Up until the 12th, pickers harvested superb, concentrated grapes, although they needed to discard some bunches with dreaded sour rot caused by fruit flies. On the 21st of September, another wave of picking was attempted, but without success. It was thus necessary to wait… Thankfully, the sunshine quickly returned, as did very mild temperatures. Noble rot then picked up again beautifully - as did the fruit flies! An enormous quantity of grapes had to be thrown away to ensure quality. The third and fourth waves of picking took place from the 27th of September to the 2nd of October. The quality of grapes affected by noble rot was splendid, even though more than half of the remaining crop was ruined by sour rot and had to be sacrificed. This was definitely a “year of the winemaker” in which experience made all the difference !

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Château de Fargus has been owned by the Lur-Saluces family since 1472. The family owned d'Yquem until 1999 and de Fargues is known by some critics as d`Yquem jnr. The same winemaking techniques are use at both properties and de Fargues often matches d`Yquem in terms of power and intensity.

De Fargues's 15 hectare vineyard is situated 4 kilometres southeast of d`Yquem and is planted with 80% Sémillon, and 15% Sauvignon Blanc. Yields are minute (lower even than d`Yquem) and the grapes are harvested in as many as 12 separate "tries". The grapes are fermented and the wine is subsequently aged for 3 years in one-year-old oak barriques that were previously used at d`Yquem.

De Fargues's production is small with sometimes only 500 cases a years being produced. The wines require at least 10 years of bottle aging before they should be approached.