Author: Clémence Fabre

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The wagon, symbol of our Famille Fabre vineyard !

The wagon, symbol of our vineyard:

  • Because it was invented by our grand-father André Fabre in the 1950s, and is a symbol of creativity and innovation. It respects the quality of the bunches of grapes which, from the stump to the cellar where they will be crushed, have no transfer of containers that could degrade them.
  • Because it’s small, on a human scale: our organization is such that the winemaker is at the heart of the organization of the group of a few dozen people who share his passion for wine.
  • Because it invites us to help each other: a wagon is almost always towed with one or two others, to ensure optimum transport capacity.
  • Because it can’t go backwards: when the wagons are hitched up in single file, it’s impossible to go backwards. We know that setting up a sustainable production system that respects people and nature is irreversible. Freedom of expression, which is very important in the winemaking profession, can only be expressed through originality, i.e. the feeling that we are unique, original, like the terroir we wish to reveal.

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Terrasses de Lézignan, a soon to be Cru in Corbieres !

Plantier Vigne

A future is being built. Following the example of the famous Cru Boutenac, co-built with 30 neighboring winegrowers, we are working on the recognition of a new Cru within the Corbières appellation, a long-term vision. Château Coulon Terrasses de Lézignan has just been bottled, and should be on sale by the end of the year.

THE PROJECT

With an appellation area of 44,000 hectares, including 11,500 planted with vines, Corbières has been an AOC since 1985. Long-standing identities and vine-growing have led to the early identification of terroirs, now seeking official recognition as crus communaux. The Terrasses-de-Lézignan “complementary geographical denomination” (DGC) project was launched in 2018 by 5 estates and the Lézignan cooperative winery.
It now brings together 9 renowned estates and 2 cooperative wineries. The aim is to highlight the specific features of specific terroir in Corbieres appellation.

THE TERROIR

The terroir of Lézignan was identified very early on as one of the specific terroirs of the Corbières due to its ancient quaternary terraces (see Jacquinet 1991 study). The bioclimatic map was drawn up by the Chamber of Agriculture (strict Mediterranean climate zone, semi-arid with a mild climate), as was the pedological map. The terroir is one of those identified in the 1988 Supagro Montpellier engineering project.

SPECIFICATIONS

Maximum yield Number of communes, 100% red 40 hl / ha 11

VARIETIES

– Main grape variety: Syrah: between 60% and 80% – minimum vine age 4 years
– Complementary grape variety: Grenache minimum 20% – vines at least 4 years old
– Accessory grape varieties: mourvèdre, carignan (max 20% together or separately) – minimum age 7 years

AGEING

The wines are aged until at least December 31st of the year following the harvest, including at least 3 months in bottle.

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Lux rosé, the nature for conviction

Discover our latest addition to the range: Lux Rosé
1 (Phys.) Unit of measurement of light.
2 (Adj.) Character of what is refined.
3 (Fig.) Like the pink moon, our rosé reveals itself in spring.
4. (Wine) Lux de Luc rosé, an exceptional blend of cinsault, syrah and grenache.

A gourmet rosé, this AOP Languedoc blend of cinsault, syrah and grenache offers delicacy and complexity. Notes of peach, a tangy finish, minerality and freshness. A tribute to April’s pink moon, this cuvée marks nature’s return to life, let’s celebrate together!

Ecological commitments:

We have eco-designed Lux Rosé with particular attention to the packaging:

Cork: Nomacorc Select Green 100, the first carbon-neutral cork. Manufactured by Vinvention from plant-based polymers derived from renewable resources. Recyclable.

Label: First carbon-neutral label.
100% French paper with an old-fashioned feel.
FSC-certified, made from pulp from sustainably managed forests.
Bio-sourced with alternative fibers (20% bamboo).

We have chosen not to use caps, thus reducing waste and environmental impact.

An invitation to discovery, Lux Rosé embodies light and our commitment to sustainable viticulture that respects the environment.

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New warehouse at château de Luc

Luc’s residents have notices over the last months all the renovation and construction works made at Famille Fabre ! After (finally) re-roofing the château and the winery, we’re now building a new hangar to absorb the surplus orders from our growing business. We’d like to thank all the craftsmen who worked on the site, and look forward to moving in next month!

 

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Sheep again in our vineyard !

Having sheep in the vineyard has many advantages. Sheep grazing helps to keep vegetation under control in an environmentally-friendly way, reducing the need for herbicides and machinery.What’s more, sheep naturally fertilize the soil with their droppings, promoting soil health and biodiversity. Their presence also helps reduce the risk of fire by eliminating dry grass and maintaining a safer environment.

The return of the sheep to the Fabre family vineyards is a symbol of tradition and respect for the land. Using ancestral methods such as biodiversity and holistic management, they are restoring ecological balance while producing quality wines.This return testifies to their commitment to sustainable viticulture.

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BIOCHAR : tests in our vineyard

BIOCHAR

Biochar offers a number of advantages for vines. Firstly, it improves water retention and soil structure, promoting better root growth and optimal nutrient absorption. In addition, it helps regulate soil temperature, protecting roots from extremes of heat and cold. Finally, biochar also enhances soil biodiversity by providing a favorable habitat for beneficial micro-organisms, strengthening the vine’s overall resilience to disease and environmental stress.

First tests for the Fabre Family … .to be followed soon here and on our networks!

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Going with the grain: success of oaked Chardonnay in Pays d’Oc | THE BUYER

The Buyer

Going with the grain: success of oaked Chardonnay in Pays d’Oc

When Pays d’Oc Chardonnay shot to prominence in the 1990s, it owed much of its recognition to the New World producers, particularly in California, who had spearheaded the concept of varietal wines, taking the native French grape and infusing it with a new level of extroversion. Key to this was the role played by oak, which became closely associated with Chardonnay in the public imagination – and followed the grape back to Pays d’Oc as it rode the waves of international market trends.

mm By November 24, 2023

Dominic Rippon finds out how oaked Chardonnay has matured in France’s Pays d’Oc vineyard and selects his favourite IGP Pays d’Oc wooded Chardonnays from an impressive tasting of the 2022 vintage. 

As I wrote in my previous piece for The Buyer, Chardonnay still rules in France’s Pays d’Oc vineyard. Originally a Burgundian variety, it now produces over 600 000 hectolitres of IGP Pays d’Oc every year – making it by far the region’s most squeezed varietal white.

The Pays d’Oc vineyards cover the area of the Languedoc-Roussillon, stretching from the Spanish border all the way to the western fringes of Provence. The range of climatic influences, terroirs, and hence styles of Chardonnay are consequently vast, but oaked Chardonnay is such a distinctive product that it is almost a category in it own right, deserving a special focus.

Chardonnay’s unique affinity for oak has been well known for centuries and undoubtedly played a role in the variety’s ubiquitous adoption in its native Burgundy. But whereas the role of oak barrels in Burgundy has always been nuanced, allowing oxygenation, adding structure and contributing to wines’ ageing potential, the New World Chardonnays that spurred France’s Pays d’Oc renaissance put the emphasis squarely on flavour – bold, powerful flavours that came to play the leading role in many Chardonnays in Pays d’Oc and elsewhere.

 

“Grande Courtade” Chardonnay 2022, Famille Fabre, 13% – Organic

A bright golden Chardonnay from the Fabre family estate, in the heart of the Corbières area. 20% of the wine is aged on its lees in oak for 6 months. The nose is energetic and floral, with ripe lemons, pears and peaches – full of charm, it just wants you to take a sip! This theme continues on the palate, with generous flavours underpinned by a delicate buttery richness. An ideal partner for fish in a creamy citrus sauce.

RRP in UK £13.99. Available from: UK importer – Boutinot/Third Floor

IGP Pays d’Oc is a commercial partner of The Buyer. To discover more about them click here.

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Integrated ecology with Famille Fabre

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of our ongoing, 360-degree vineyard initiatives! Work in permanent progress…

IN THE VINEYARDS
– We have planted southern grape varieties to accompany the global warming: Alvarinho, Tempranillo.
– A major agroforestry direction is given with over 5,000 trees planted in 3 years, together with hedges inside the vineyards. The fruits iare then transformed by André Fabre, son number 5 from Famille Fabre.  https://www.instagram.com/andrefabre_cidre/
– Integration of polyculture and mixed farming on the estate: 30% of the total surface area planted with field crops. A herd of 200 sheep graze our vineyards from October to March. We cover ranges between the vines with leguminous seeds, mustard or faba beans sown in September and laid down in February and March, depending on weather conditions.
– We have planted resistant grape varieties, in their 2nd year of production, a light, aromatic white: Souvignié gris, Floréal and Sauvignac, which we have just harvested. No passage through the vines, no treatment products, and a much better carbon footprint !

AT THE BOTTLE
– Let’s make it reusable! We have launched a range of wines that we sell at Biocoop in returnable bottles: Le Chant de la Terre. Soon our Bulle, PET NAT instant will follow on the traditional distribution in French HORECA.
– We’re removing the foil on 2 cuvée, replacing them with DSAs. And for exports, when customers agree:  https://www.famillefabre.com/en/no-more-caps/

– We offered a Scandinavian customer the FRUGAL Pack below in Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.


– Another innovative packaging: Packamama, a flat PET bottle of 60 grams: https://packamama.com. Known for the Galoupet bottle, we sell this concept to our customers.

– Adelphe membership to responsibly manage the waste associated with the distribution of our wines in France.
– Lighter bottle weight when customer agrees: adoption of standard BG or BDX 410 g character. The sommelier bottle for top-of-the-range products has been replaced by the conical bottle, saving 300g per bottle!

CORPORATE CSR
– Participation at the Convention des Entreprises pour le Climat, a national think-tank about global warming and tools to reduce its effects https://cec-impact.org/
– Monthly meal with a green minute for the company’s 45 employees: a moment of trimming and reflection on the pillars of CSR.
– Strict waste sorting and collaboration with MP2 Environement on recycling glassine, paper and cardboard: https://www.mp2environnement.com/recyclerie-mp2-environnement/ . Glass becomes an object of table art with Culo https://www.culo.fr.

AT THE CAVEAU
– Promotion of Slow tourism at the chateau: electric bike rides, and “take your time” tours.