Château Fleur Haut Gaussens

Château Fleur Haut Gaussens stands apart as a family estate that has dedicated generations to understanding, respecting, and following its terroir. This deep connection to the land results in wines that are atypical, full of personality, and consistently evolving in quality. With each passing vintage, the estate adapts to nature's temperament, allowing every wine to write its own unique story.

Nestled in the commune of Vérac, near Fronsac, the 40-hectare vineyard thrives on clay-limestone soils. Spread across 27 carefully selected parcels, the vines are strategically planted to maximize sun exposure. The estate cultivates Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc, ensuring a diverse and expressive range of wines. Committed to sustainable viticulture, the property holds HVE Level 3 certification, with a deep respect for the surrounding ecosystem. Inputs are carefully moderated according to the vegetation cycle, while grass cover between the vine rows and organic manure from the estate’s own sheep enrich the soil naturally.

Throughout the growing season, meticulous attention is given to each parcel, tailoring vineyard practices to the specific needs of the soil and vines to achieve optimal ripeness and quality. Harvesting is conducted partly at night to preserve the freshness of the grapes, with an initial sorting performed onboard the harvester. Two additional sorting steps follow: one on an automatic sorting table and another using cutting-edge density-based technology that eliminates green waste and under-ripe grapes with precision.

In the wine cellar, a perfect balance between tradition and modernity has been achieved. Château Fleur Haut Gaussens remains one of the last Bordeaux Supérieur estates crafting wines meant for aging, much in the same manner as the revered Grands Crus. The wines are designed to evolve gracefully over time, maintaining their finesse and elegance while showcasing a subtle harmony between aromatic richness and structured tannins. Delicately vinified grape varieties fully express the estate's terroir, resulting in wines of exceptional volume and depth.

Plot-by-plot vinification is carefully adapted to each vintage. Each parcel is vinified separately to preserve the unique identity of its terroir and grape variety. Instead of crushing, the grapes are kept whole in tanks at a cool 10°C for a week before fermentation temperatures rise to between 20°C and 28°C. Gentle extraction methods, including two daily pump-overs and regular tastings, ensure a balanced expression of fruit and structure.

The cellar seamlessly blends traditional expertise with modern innovation. Cold pre-fermentation maceration, thermo-regulated stainless steel vats, and natural malolactic fermentation—partly in barrels—enhance the wine’s complexity. A vertical press is employed to extract juice delicately, avoiding excessive tannin extraction from stems and seeds. Only the finest new French oak barrels are selected for aging, imparting subtle, elegant wood influences over a period of five to twelve months. Bi-monthly tastings guide the aging process, ensuring each wine develops with precision and harmony.

In a final step that defines the estate’s commitment to authenticity, blending occurs just before bottling, and the wines remain unfined. This meticulous approach allows each vintage of Château Fleur Haut Gaussens to fully express its character, offering wines of depth, finesse, and a singular identity.