Château Féret-Lambert

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Located in Grézillac, Château Féret-Lambert produces wines under the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation. Managed by Henri Féret and Olivier Sulzer, the estate is currently in organic conversion. The 23-hectare vineyard is planted on asteriated clay-limestone soils.

Château Féret-Lambert — photo principale
© Château Féret-Lambert

Identity

Château Féret-Lambert is situated in the commune of Grézillac, approximately 35 km east of Bordeaux. Owned by the Féret family since 1930, the estate is today run by Henri Féret in collaboration with Olivier Sulzer.

History and Philosophy

The history of Château Féret-Lambert is intrinsically linked to the Féret family, renowned publishers of the historic guide "Bordeaux et ses Vins". The property was acquired in 1930 by Charles Féret, the great-grandfather of the current manager. Following a period of inactivity, the estate was revitalised in 1997 by Henri Féret, a wine broker, who partnered with winegrower Olivier Sulzer. The vineyard is currently in conversion to organic farming.

Appellations

Château Féret-Lambert produces wines under the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation.

Practical Information

Château Féret-Lambert is located at 139, route de Lescours, 33420 Grézillac, France. The estate offers direct wine sales and tastings on site. Visits are available and a gîte provides on-site accommodation. For further information, the estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 5 57 74 93 18 or by email at feret-lambert@orange.fr.

Find out more

Official estate website

Frequently asked questions

What is the appellation of Château Féret-Lambert wines?
Château Féret-Lambert produces red wines under the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation. This is the main and only appellation recorded for the estate.
Who are the owners or managers of Château Féret-Lambert?
Château Féret-Lambert has been owned by the Féret family since 1930. It is currently managed by Henri Féret in partnership with Olivier Sulzer. Charles Féret, the great-grandfather, originally acquired the property.
What is the vineyard's surface area and terroir?
The Château Féret-Lambert vineyard covers 23 hectares. It is planted on asteriated clay-limestone soils rich in fossilised corals, sitting over a limestone subsoil that imparts a distinctive character to the estate.
What are the primary grape varieties grown at Château Féret-Lambert?
The vineyard at Château Féret-Lambert is dominated by Merlot, which accounts for 90% of the plantings, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon (10%). These grape varieties make up the blend of the estate's red wines.

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The Château Féret-Lambert vineyard spans 23 hectares, set on the left bank of the Dordogne, some twelve kilometres from Saint-Émilion. The soils consist of asteriated clay-limestone across plateaus and slopes over limestone bedrock, distinguished by the presence of abundant fossilised corals rich in trace elements. The subsoil is likewise asteriated limestone. Backed against a limestone cliff, the winery benefits from natural underground limestone quarries where the wines can be aged. The grape varieties are predominantly Merlot (90%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%). The vines are planted at a density of 5,500 vines per hectare and pruned in double Guyot. Vineyard management includes manual debudding, trellising, and leaf-stripping. The soils are lightly ploughed to preserve the limestone balance. The estate employs sustainable viticulture practices (lutte raisonnée), carrying out green harvesting when required. Harvesting is carried out by hand for the flagship cuvée, and either mechanically or manually for the Costes cuvée.

Flagship Cuvées

The estate crafts two main cuvées. Château Féret-Lambert is a red wine made predominantly from Merlot. The vinification process includes destemming, double sorting of the grapes, cold pre-fermentation maceration, and fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel and concrete vats with extraction via punch-downs and pump-overs. Ageing lasts around 15 months in French oak barrels (30% new oak), often conducted in the natural limestone cellars. Malolactic fermentation takes place partially in new barrels. The Costes du Château Féret-Lambert cuvée is also a red wine. Its vinification follows similar stages, including destemming, double sorting, cold maceration, and fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel and concrete tanks. Ageing lasts approximately 6 to 8 months in second-fill French oak barrels within the same underground quarries. The blend for this cuvée may include Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vinification and Ageing

Vinification at Château Féret-Lambert begins with destemming and meticulous double sorting of the grapes. Cold maceration is conducted to enhance the extraction of fruit aromas. Fermentation takes place in small temperature-controlled stainless-steel and concrete vats. Extraction is tailored through punch-downs and pump-overs. Following fermentation and warm post-fermentation maceration, the wines are drawn off with their fine lees. For the Château Féret-Lambert cuvée, part of the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in new oak barrels, followed by 15 months of ageing in French oak barrels (30% new). For the Costes du Château Féret-Lambert cuvée, ageing lasts 6 months in two-year-old French oak barrels. Ageing for both cuvées takes place in the natural underground limestone quarries beneath the vineyards, providing consistently stable maturation conditions. Bottling is carried out at the château.

Commune
Grézillac
Wine region
Bordeaux & Bordeaux Supérieur
Owner
Henri Féret
Technical direction
Olivier Sulzer
Surface area
23 ha
Second wine
Costes du Château Féret-Lambert
Certifications
Bio
Grape varieties
Merlot 90%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%

Practical information

Address
139, rte de Lescours, 33420 Grézillac
Contact form
Contact the estate
Visits
Dégustation à la propriété: Oui, Vente à la propriété: Oui

Location

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