92 Decanter
Château Fonréaud - Le Cygne blanc 2021

    Château Fonréaud - Le Cygne blanc 2021

    Bordeaux • Bordeaux Blanc Sec • White

    £27.00 tax included
    £27.00 tax included
    £27.00 / unit
    Packaging : 1 x 75CL - Carton

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    Description

    The Swan 2021 is the rare and renowned dry white wine produced by the Château Fonréaud, historic property of the Chanfreau family located in Listrac-Médoc. While the Médoc region is almost exclusively dedicated to red wines, The Swan stands out as a pioneering exception: created at the beginning of the 20th century, then replanted and reinvented in the 1980s, This wine has established itself as one of the most remarkable secret white wines of the Médoc peninsula.

    The 2021 vintage in Bordeaux, characterized by moderate temperatures and a long maturation period without excessive sunlight,constitutes an absolute benchmark year for dry white Bordeaux wines. It gave this vintage a crystalline acidity,a high tension and an aromatic quality of remarkable purity.

    Ratings

    Ratings

    • Decanter 92/100
    • Jane Anson 92/100
    Notes and pairings

    Notes and pairings

    Tasting notes

    Dress: Straw yellow with very bright golden and greenish highlights. Nose: Intense, complex, and very fresh. It exudes notes of vibrant citrus (pink grapefruit, lime zest, yuzu), white peach, gooseberry, and fresh pear. The Muscadelle grape contributes floral touches of acacia, honeysuckle, and jasmine, while aging adds a subtly woody structure: fresh hazelnut, beeswax, and a hint of toast/smokiness and minerality. On the palate: The attack is direct, lively, and precise. The mid-palate offers a dense and silky texture, where the richness from oak aging balances the nervous tension of the 2021 vintage. The wine follows a straight line, guided by a remarkable limestone backbone. The finish is saline, very long, ending with elegant bitter notes of citron peel and a refreshing, stony sensation.

    Food & wine pairings

    Noble fish grilled or with beurre blanc (sole meunière, line-caught sea bass), oysters from the Arcachon basin, scallop carpaccio with citrus fruits, pan-fried sweetbreads with preserved lemon, or mature goat cheeses.
    Producer

    Producer

    Like an amphitheater, the vineyard faces the château Since the origins of the wine, only the creation of the Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) has divided it into the Listrac-Médoc and Moulis-en-Médoc appellations. Its vines occupy the highest point of the Médoc (43 m) as well as its gravelly slopes. On these magnificent gravelly slopes, a Listrac is produced, the Château Fonréaud, and a Moulis, Château Chemin Royal, but also a white Bordeaux, Le Cygne de Fonréaud, which delights lovers of great white wines. The vine is cultivated with the utmost respect for the plant and the environment according to the precepts of the Cousinié Method.

    Owner and history

    Fonréaud, a name derived from legend, and a location on the roof of the Médoc already make this property an exceptional place. “Fonréaud”, formerly “Font-réaux”, means “Royal Fountain”. Indeed, legend has it that in the 12th century, the King of England and husband of Eleanor of Aquitaine, stopped there to quench his thirst at a very cool spring. In 1962, Léo Chanfreau, a winegrower in Algeria, returned to mainland France with his family. He visited numerous properties and fell in love with Fonréaud. Everything needed rebuilding: the vineyard had dwindled to just 17 hectares and was in poor condition. Today, Guillaume and Loïc cultivate this vineyard with passion and meticulously refine each vintage.

    Vinification and aging

    Created at the beginning of the century by the Viscountess of Coulogne, the vineyard of Château Fonréaud
    already produced a renowned dry white wine at that time. Named "Le Cygne" (The Swan), the emblem of the family that built the château, it bore the same characteristics as other white wines from Listrac-Médoc ("Le Merle Blanc" of Château Clarke and "The Seagull" by Château Lestage), a bird name.
    In the late 1950s, climatic hazards led to the disappearance of these white vines.
    As early as 1989 the property reconnected with tradition by reviving this small vineyard.

    Château Fonréaud

    Discover Château Fonréaud

    The team's opinion

    Le Cygne 2021 combines the crisp, chalky character and aromatic sap of Sauvignon Blanc with the creaminess imparted by Sémillon and oak aging. Remarkable even now for its brilliance and vibrancy, it possesses the acidic structure and concentration necessary to develop with complexity over 6 to 10 years (2024–2032+).

    • Serving temperature 11°

    • Climax 2025 à 2030