Château Fourcas Hosten Listrac-Medoc 2016

Fourcas-Hosten is arguably the finest producer in Listrac, one of the 6 village wine appellations of the Haut Médoc. From 1971 to 2006 it was owned by Schröder & Schÿler, the Bordeaux négociant firm that also owns Château Kirwan. In 2006 Château Fourcas Hosten was sold to two members of the Hermès luxury-goods family, the brothers Laurent and Renaud Mommeja.

The property consists of a château in the centre of the village of Listrac, where the vineyard soil is clay and limestone, and a gravel plot in Fourcas, a nearby hamlet.

There are 47 hectares of vines altogetherThe vines include Merlot, largely confined to the clay soils, whereas the gravel is favoured by the two Cabernets, with Cabernet Sauvignon covering 23 hectares and 2 hectares of Cabernet Franc.

The wine is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The vines are tended along the lines of lutte raisonnée. The grand vin is matured 12 months in oak barrels.

A super Fourcas, laden with blackcurrant fruits, dark chocolate and a touch of forest floor. The tannins are finely poised and the finish is full of flavour.