| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Consistently good wines are produced here at this Irish-owned château. The prices remain modest despite the quality and the wines are always typically Graves in style. Strong efforts are being made here by wine-maker Stephen Carrier - who has added a cellar master previously from Pape Clement and has recently changed his consultant from Hubert de Bouard to Thomas Duclos of Château Canon fame. The vineyard is planted with 30 hecatres each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and 6 of Petit Verdot. There is no more Cabernet Franc. Barrel ageing for 14-18 months in 65% new oak. Darragh Quinn told us that they now pick a little earlier than before here with more gentle extraction - with the aim of making a fresher wine than under the previous consultancy.
The 2024 is made from 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot. Aged in 35% new oak. 13.5 degrees. All the Cabernets were picked in October and the yield was 28 hl/ha
More austere and less luminous than recent vintages—a clear reflection of the vintage—the 2024 de Fieuzal is showing remarkably well within its context. Evoking dark berries, cassis, flowers and lead pencil, it's medium to full-bodied, sappy and layered with a delicate, precise mid-palate framed by velvety tannins and concluding with a delicate, saline finish. This blend of 45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Petit Verdot has clearly benefited from Stephen Carrier’s patient “wait-for-maturity” approach.
Mid-pale ruby. An intriguing nose here, with bergamot and blood orange and a stony, earthy undertone. Lightly smoky, but built around pure and bright fruit. Midweight with a marmalade-like character, the fruit is framed by gentle, pithy tannins that become increasingly firm on the finish.
Medium intensity cherry red, slate and crayon texture, well handled, austere, but structured, you can see the slow build of muscles through the palate, and the deepening black fruit character. Softly spoken compared to many vintages of this excellent wine, but there are layers here, good complexity, and skilful construction.
The 2024 de Fieuzal is a powerful, brooding wine. Dried herbs, tobacco, scorched earth and leather all take shape in the glass. This offers lovely mid-palate creaminess and fine depth. A classy Pessac-Léognan, Fieuzal is very nicely rendered. Floral top notes linger effortlessly on the close. Drink 2026-2034.
