Wines By Region / Bordeaux / Fronsac / Château la Vieille Cure

Château La Vieille Cure - Fronsac

Saillans, Libourne
With its 20 hectares in one single plot, Château La Vieille Cure appears on a famous 1780 map of the Guyenne region, known as the Belleyme map. Parish records show grapes were already grown here in the 17th century. The vines occupy a privileged location on southeast-facing plateaus and slopes of chalk- and clay-limestone soils. The estate runs along the Isle River at an elevation of 65 meters, where it soaks up the sun while enjoying perfect drainage, basically perfect conditions for grape-growing.

The property has been impressively renovated since 1986, when it was bought by a group of American Bordeaux lovers who recognized its exceptional potential. Parts of the vineyard were extended and replanted, without of course touching the very old vines, some of which are over 75 years old. A new winery was built, housing modern equipment, and aging in oak casks was begun. The new owners launched a plan to bottle exclusively at the château and bring the wine's quality up to international standards.

​In the vineyards, the wines are pruned in the Mixed Guyot method. Harvest is 100% manual and all grapes are destemmed. A manual sorting takes place before the grapes are sent to their temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. During the 3-4-week maceration, there are twice-daily pumpovers and occasional punchdowns. The wine then goes into barrel where it undergoes malolactic fermentation.

Château La Vielle Cure Fronsac
The domaine's only wine, made from 74% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. With a perfect balance of fruit, oak and tannins, this is a food wine, to be enjoyed (ideally after a few years in bottle) with red meat dishes and spicy food. As Robert Parker puts it, "Château La Vieille Cure may well be the reference point for Fronsac given its performance over the last decade. Consistently one of the top two or three wines of the appellation."