Château Faizeau

The story

From Map To Ownership

In 2011, Crus et Domaines de France purchased Château Faizeau from Chantal Lebreton. The estate's name reaches back further: it derives from petite faize, meaning little faize, after the Benedictine Abbey of Faize situated near the estate, and the château was already included on Belleyme's map in the 18th century. The grand vin is Château Faizeau Sélection Vieilles Vignes, made from old vine Merlot. The ownership change placed this old named estate under its present owner.

From the atlas

Château Faizeau

Montagne-Saint-Émilion château with Merlot led reds, old vine Merlot in its grand vin, and a named second wine.

At A Glance

The Producer

Old vine Merlot sits at the top of Château Faizeau's range. The Montagne-Saint-Émilion château makes Château Faizeau Sélection Vieilles Vignes as its grand vin, with Château Chants de Faizeau as the second wine. The estate works with Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with Merlot taking the larger share of the planting.

The range is compact and clearly divided by bottle role. One wine carries the grand vin name and the Vieilles Vignes designation; the other carries its own name as the second wine. Château Faizeau is a red Bordeaux producer whose central grape is Merlot.

Place

Montagne-Saint-Émilion is the appellation printed on Château Faizeau's label, within Bordeaux. The wine is red, and the appellation name sits alongside a grape composition led by Merlot with Cabernet Franc. The place line identifies the appellation, while the grape line tells what is in the bottle.

The appellation gives the wine its geographic category without requiring a broader regional label. Château Faizeau remains tied to one Bordeaux appellation and to a red wine style built around Merlot.

Soil And Site

Sand, clay and limestone make up the estate soils. Sand generally drains quickly, clay retains more water, and limestone can contribute a stony impression. A vineyard combining these materials can expose vines to different water conditions, which can affect ripening and the feel of the finished wine.

These three materials also create different physical conditions for the roots. Clay can hold moisture during dry periods, while sand allows excess water to move away. Limestone is commonly associated with firmer mineral impressions in wine, although the estate's specific soil profile is described through its composition rather than a detailed parcel analysis.

Story

In 2011, Crus et Domaines de France purchased Château Faizeau from Chantal Lebreton. The estate then entered its present ownership under the company. Since 2020, Château Faizeau has held HVE level 3 certification.

The ownership change and the later certification mark two dated stages in the estate's recent history. The wines continue under the Château Faizeau name, with a grand vin and a second wine forming the range.

Vineyards And Cellar

The estate encompasses 12 hectares. Planting is 94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, making Merlot the central variety and Cabernet Franc the smaller component.

Merlot generally brings ripe fruit, body and a rounded palate, while Cabernet Franc can add herbal notes and firmer tannin. At Château Faizeau, the proportions place Merlot at the centre of the vineyard and keep Cabernet Franc in a supporting role.

The estate has held HVE level 3 certification since 2020. That certification belongs to the vineyard rather than to a particular bottle, so it describes the estate's farming status across the holding.

Wines

The range has a clear two wine hierarchy. Château Faizeau Sélection Vieilles Vignes is the grand vin and is made from 100% old vine Merlot. Château Chants de Faizeau is the second wine.

The two names separate the bottles by role. The grand vin carries the Vieilles Vignes designation and the old vine Merlot composition, while Château Chants de Faizeau occupies the second wine position. The 2022 vintage is a red wine from the Montagne-Saint-Émilion appellation.

In The Glass

The 2022 vintage is medium bodied, with a supple texture and forward fruit. Its flavors are creamy, ripe and sweet. The combination gives the wine a soft, rounded feel instead of a hard or angular palate.

Château Faizeau wines have soft tannins, and peak maturity comes 3 to 12 years after the vintage. The drinking window therefore extends beyond the first release period, with the wine developing through early and mid term bottle age.

A Bottle To Understand It

Choose Château Faizeau Sélection Vieilles Vignes. It is the grand vin, made from old vine Merlot and marked by the Vieilles Vignes designation.

The bottle carries the estate's principal wine role and its most specific grape material in one label. Château Chants de Faizeau is the second wine, so the Vieilles Vignes bottling comes first when the aim is to taste the grand vin itself.

Anecdote

In the 18th century, Belleyme's map already included Château Faizeau. The estate's name derives from petite faize, meaning little faize, after the Benedictine Abbey of Faize situated near the estate. The château therefore carries a name linked to a nearby abbey and an appearance on an old Bordeaux map, with both references attached to the producer's name today.

Final Word

Château Faizeau pairs Montagne-Saint-Émilion red wine with a grand vin of old vine Merlot and a named second wine, Château Chants de Faizeau.

Sources

1. https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/bordeaux-wine-producer-profiles/bordeaux/satellite-appellations/chateau-faizeau-montagne-st-emilion-bordeaux-wine/ 2. https://crusetdomainesdefrance.com/wine/chateau-faizeau/?lang=en 3. https://grandcercle.fr/en/chateaux/chateau-faizeau/ 4. https://www.systembolaget.se/produkt/vin/7642701/