Château Fonbadet

Identity

Château Fonbadet is a family-owned estate located in Pauillac. It is owned by SCEA Domaines Peyronie, with Pascale Peyronie serving as owner and winemaker.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Fonbadet dates back to the 18th century. The estate joined the Peyronie family in the 1970s and is now managed by the fourth generation of winegrowers. Pascale Peyronie took over winemaking duties in 2000. The estate is committed to an eco-friendly approach, notably eliminating insecticides and weedkillers. It holds HVE (High Environmental Value) certification.

Appellations

Château Fonbadet produces wines under the Pauillac appellation.

Practical information

Château Fonbadet is located at 47, route des Châteaux, 33250 Pauillac. Estate tours and tastings are available on site. The cellar door and wine shop is open Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm, and on Saturday by appointment. Mail order sales are also offered. The estate's chartreuse, available for private hire since January 2024, features 5 suites along with a spa, gym and outdoor pool. Owner Pascale Peyronie showcases a personal art collection there.

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The vineyard (terroir)

The Château Fonbadet vineyard covers 20 hectares, divided into several parcels. The vines, with an average age of around fifty years, are trained in double Guyot. The terroir is characterised by gravel ridges to the north and clay-limestone soils to the south. The soils consist of deep gravel, notably those of Pouyalet and Saint-Lambert. A 1.5-hectare plot surrounds the estate, adjoining Château Latour and Château Pichon Comtesse, while another 10-hectare plot lies in the north of the appellation, surrounded by the vineyard of Château Mouton Rothschild. Vineyard altitudes range between 14 and 22 metres. The grape varieties, dedicated primarily to red wines, comprise five Médoc varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Soil management is carried out through seasonal ploughing, shallow tilling and earthing-up.

Flagship cuvées

The estate produces Château Fonbadet, a still red wine. Its aromas evoke dark fruit, tobacco and spices, displaying a balanced and silky profile. The estate's second wine is L'Harmonie de Fonbadet, characterised by a supple, intense and crisp style. Its blend consists of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Another label, Ch. Pauillac, is also produced.

Vinification and ageing

Harvesting is carried out by hand by a team of around 50 pickers, with grape sorting taking place first in the vineyard on a mobile sorting table, then in the vat house on a vibrating sorting table. The grapes are then fully destemmed and lightly crushed. Vinification takes place in temperature-controlled concrete vats, with maceration lasting 4 to 6 weeks. Ageing, notably for Château Fonbadet, takes place in oak barrels for 18 months, with 40% to 50% new oak. Regular topping up and traditional rackings without filtration are performed. The final blend is assembled two years after the harvest. The technical team includes cellar master Jacques Poulain, vineyard manager Paul Demoire, and consulting oenologists Michel Rolland and Julien Viaud.