The historic Sauternes property of de Fargues got its true start all the way back in 1472 when the Lur Saluces family became the owners. That is three centuries before the same family took control of Chateau d’Yquem! Chateau de Fargues is made in the exact same manner as d’Yquem. Chateau de Fargues is still in the hands of the Lur Saluces family today. However, the birth of the Sauternes estate took place more than a century earlier when it was founded in 1306 by Raymond Guilheim de Fargues.
The Lur Saluces dynasty was formed in part, because of Chateau de Fargues. Isabeau de Monferrand married Pierre de Lur in 1472. Jean de Lur, a direct descendent of Pierre and Isabeau, married Catherine Charlotte de Saluces in 1586 and the Lur Saluces dynasty that was to become very important to Sauternes and Bordeaux wine was now created. However, that marriage was not the last part of the equation. That came about in 1785 with the marriage of Francoise Josephine de Sauvage d’Yquem and Louis Amedee de Lur-Saluces.
The 15 hectare vineyard of Chateau de Fargues has a terroir of sand, clay and gravel soils. The vineyard is planted to 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc. On average, the vines are 35 years of age and are planted to a vine density of 6,600 vines per hectare.
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Tasting Notes:
1999 Château de Fargues
92 Points – Neal Martin, “The Wine Advocate” (June 2013)
“The de Fargues 1999 is described by the estate as a classic vintage that adheres to the adage ‘Aout fait le mout.’ Two-thirds of the crop was picked in September after 8 days of rain propagated widespread noble rot. There is slightly lower residual sugar at 122-grams-per-liter. It has a more conservative, straight-laced bouquet compared to more recent vintages, revealing touches of ginger, dried honey, mandarin and a dab of alcohol. The palate is medium-bodied with a confident, viscous opening and a keen threat of acidity. Notes of mandarin, lemon peel, honeycomb and Indian spices inform the middle and finish that retains a sense of composure and linearity that suits it well.
This is a very fine Sauternes for the vintage. Tasted April 2013.”