Lot presentation

Château de Fargues 1996

The wine

Powerful yet incredibly elegant, the wine is so rich and creamy that it is almost syrup-like. It offers complex and flavoursome aromas of citrus fruits, exotic fruits and broom, as well as toasted bread and mellow spices. A great fortified wine designed to be aged. It is worth noting that the estate does not produce a Second Wine, but does make a delicious dry white, the Guilhem de Fargues.

About the Producer Château de Fargues

The Château de Fargues estate has belonged to the Lur-Saluces family (former owner of Yquem) since 1472. Fargues first became known for its red wine, which was then abandoned in 1930 as the estate focused on its famous fortified wine. This meant that the cru was ineligible for the famous Sauternes classification (1855) - this is of little importance, as above and beyond mere titles, the wonderful nectar produced by the estate speaks for itself, placing Fargues firmly among the elite of the appellation's wines. Today, Philippe de Lur-Saluces masterfully manages the cru by applying the same rigorous wine-making and vinification methods as those used in Yquem: low yields (8 hl/ha), stringent selecting in the yield to extract the very best of the noble rot, ageing for 36 months in one year-old barrels, zero filtering, etc. The only slight disappointment here is very low production, leaving a number of connoisseurs frustrated and dejected!