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.

24 June 202424 June 2024

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

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.

29 November 2023

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

By Dominic RipponNovember 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.

17 April 202117 April 2021

Historic black frost on 2021 April 8th

Waking up on April 8th

On April 8th, after a short night on MetéoCiel, zapping between the 5 locations of Domaines Fabre, we woke up dazed. Sad morning, the road to the 2021 vintage will be long. Nothing to do against this historic frost in the vinyeard: temperatures have gone down to -6, negative as early as 2 am at the Courtade. Luc, Gasparets and Cruscades were close to -3 at 5 am, Rieux-Minervois was slightly spared around -1. The frosty areas along the riversides are as affected as the upper hills. Never before seen in the lives of winegrowers, over 2, even 3 generations. 80% loss. Hard to see the work of a vintage go so quickly, so early.

And now?

Let’s wait a few weeks before evaluating the volumes we will be able to harvest, this year more than ever with humility. It continues to be very cold for a month of April: 3 weeks to go before the last Ice Saint for the Languedoc: Saint Jean Porte Latine on the 6th of May, which coincides with the end of the Red Moon, and marks the end of the freezing period. We will then try to get help from more fortunate winegrowers than us, in order to satisfy our existing customers.

Global point

Terroirs frozen up to 350m of altitude, colossal losses, the Languedoc vineyards are particularly affected by the black frost episode of last week.
The map published by the Chamber of Agriculture of Languedoc sums up the situation well: on all the appellations, red dominates. A more or less dark color which underlines the extent of the disaster for many winegrowers. With the frost on the night of April 7, losses reached more than 80% in some sectors. Thus, in the Hérault, 100% of the wine growing areas (about 80,000 hectares) were frozen, with relatively preserved areas such as the Haut du Minervois, which was “only” 30% affected, while La Livinière was spared. An appellation that is considered privileged in the Languedoc.

On the other hand, in the Corbières, the situation is much darker. This concerns both the IGP (protected geographical indications) and the AOC (controlled appellations of origin), which will pose a problem of quality because even the most beautiful terroirs are affected. A first in the region for some vineyards, which are not usually frosty: the preserved terroirs of altitude froze up to 350m, while the early grape varieties were particularly vulnerable, whatever the appellation.