Château Fourcas Hosten

Identity

Château Fourcas Hosten is a winegrowing estate located in Listrac-Médoc, in the Gironde. It is owned by Laurent and Renaud Momméja. The technical team comprises Éloi Jacob as Managing Director, Grégory Meytadier as Cellar Master, and Éric Boissenot & Athanase Fakorellis as consulting oenologists.

History and philosophy

The history of Château Fourcas Hosten dates back to 1810, when the land was transferred by Hosten, marking the foundation of the estate. The property was acquired by the Momméja brothers in 2006. A new cellar was inaugurated in 2010, and that same year, a comprehensive ten-year vineyard replanting programme was initiated. The estate is committed to an eco-responsible approach, which led to HVE 3 certification starting from the 2017 vintage and official recognition in Agriculture Biologique for the entire vineyard in November 2020. The estate has also been awarded several Best Of Wine Tourism accolades for discovery and innovation (2010), architecture and landscapes (2014), and sustainable wine tourism practices (2017).

Appellations

Château Fourcas Hosten produces wines under the Listrac-Médoc Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée.

Practical information

Château Fourcas Hosten is located at 5 Rue Odilon Redon, F-33480 Listrac-Médoc. For enquiries, the estate can be contacted by telephone on +33 (0)5 56 58 01 15 or by email at contact@fourcas-hosten.com. The tasting and sales cellar is open Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00 (or 10:00 to 18:00 from 1 May to 30 September), and also on Saturdays from 10:00 to 18:00 from 1 May to 30 September. Guided tours and tastings are available for a fee, offering a tasting of three wines. The estate welcomes groups from 15 people upwards, as well as pets. Accepted payment methods include payment cards, cheques, cash, PayPal, and bank transfers. The estate also offers an online shop, click & collect/takeaway sales, and delivery services.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Fourcas Hosten extends over 50 hectares. It is characterised by two primary soil types: Pyrenean gravel on the Fourcas plateau, predominantly dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, and clay-limestone soils on the Listrac plain, where Merlot and the white grape varieties are grown. The average age of the vines is 24 years. The vineyard is managed entirely under organic farming, using environmentally friendly viticultural practices such as soil tillage, cover cropping, sulfur- and clay-based treatments, and organic fertilisation with sheep and cow manure. Biodiversity initiatives, including planting hedges and trees, are also actively implemented. The red grape varieties consist of 52% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. The white grape varieties, planted from 2012 across an area of 2 hectares, comprise Sauvignon blanc (68%), Sauvignon gris (14%), and Sémillon (18%).

Flagship cuvées

The estate produces several cuvées, including Château Fourcas Hosten (red), Château Fourcas Hosten Blanc, and Les Cèdres d’Hosten, its second wine. The red Château Fourcas Hosten has featured a Merlot-dominant blend since 2011. Château Fourcas Hosten Blanc is a dry white wine crafted from a blend of Sauvignon blanc, Sauvignon gris, and Sémillon, and has been certified organic since the 2020 vintage.

Vinification and ageing

Harvesting is carried out both by hand and mechanically. The main red wine is aged for 12 months, with 40% in new oak barrels. For Château Fourcas Hosten Blanc, ageing lasts 6 months, with 85% in 300- and 400-litre barrels. The 2023 vintage of the white wine also includes 15% of production aged in amphorae. The estate does not purchase external grapes.