Château de Fargues 1998

Characteristics and tasting notes of Château de Fargues 1998

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a brilliant golden yellow hue, reflecting the wine's beautiful evolution after more than two decades.

Nose
The bouquet reveals remarkable complexity. It opens with floral notes of rose and acacia, accompanied by yellow fruits such as mirabelle plum and warm plum. Aromas of fruit paste, fig and dried fruits gradually unfold. The ensemble is enriched by touches of toasted almond, acacia honey and fresh nuances of citrus and licorice.

Palate
The attack seduces with its silky and velvety texture, supported by underlying acidity that brings liveliness. The palate reveals floral flavors on opening, followed by ripe plum, honey and caramel reminiscent of tarte Tatin. Notes of dried fruits mingle with a citrusy and zesty freshness reminiscent of Cointreau. The structure gradually becomes firmer and denser, before finishing on a taut finale with accents of almond and dry leaves. The whole is distinguished by its particularly charming and indulgent character, gradually revealing itself with a finesse inherited from the September pickings and an amplitude brought by those of October.

Food and wine pairings
This Sauternes is an ideal accompaniment to foie gras. It can also be served at the beginning of a meal, alone or with a blue cheese.

An exceptional Sauternes combining finesse and amplitude

The estate
Founded in 1306 by Raymond-Guilhem de Fargues, nephew of Pope Clement V, Château de Fargues has belonged to the Lur Saluces family since 1472, embodying more than five centuries of uninterrupted transmission. Located in Fargues in Gironde, the estate extends over 170 hectares including 14 hectares of vineyards producing exceptional Sauternes. Philippe de Lur Saluces currently manages this family property.

The vineyard
The Château de Fargues vineyard covers 14 hectares in production in the heart of the Sauternes appellation. The parcels rest on clay-limestone and gravelly soils particularly conducive to the development of noble rot. This small surface area allows meticulous attention to be paid to each parcel, guaranteeing optimal quality of the harvested grapes.

The vintage
Bud break occurs at the end of March. After a cool and very rainy April, May experiences strong heat that makes up for the accumulated delay. Flowering takes place over approximately eight days between late May and early June. June is marked by a heat wave with a record of 36°C recorded on the 19th. From mid-July to two-thirds of August, very high temperatures and drought cause water stress. At the end of August and beginning of September, light rains restart maturation. In mid-September, botrytis sets in rapidly. The harvest conditions benefit from sunshine and south winds favoring concentration. The first two pickings of September, carried out in eight days, allow approximately two-thirds of the harvest to be picked on the gravelly parcels. At the beginning of October, heavy rains interrupt the work. In mid-October, sunshine and persistent morning fogs restart botrytization. The harvest resumes on October 17 and ends on October 28 during the fourth picking. The September pickings bring finesse, elegance and liveliness, while those of October provide amplitude and richness.

Vinification and aging
The harvest is carried out manually in four successive pickings between September 22 and October 28. After pressing and settling, Château de Fargues 1998 is vinified entirely in one and two-wine barrels. Fermentation lasts from three to five weeks, conducted with indigenous yeasts. Aging continues for 30 months in barrels, allowing the wine to develop its complexity and exceptional aging potential.

Grape varieties
Sémillon and sauvignon blanc.