You may not have heard of Château Jean Faure, but it’s time you did. For a start, it is very well-placed:
It is a fantastic clay terroir, ideal for the high Cabernet Franc content (like Cheval Blanc). It is planted to 50% Cabernet Franc and is also organically cultivated and will be certified ‘organic wine’ from the 2017 vintage. It is owned by Olivier Decelle, who also owns Domaine Decelle-Villa in Burgundy, and Mas Amiel, the legendary red ‘vin doux naturel’. Olivier has demonstrated that he is committed to long-term quality production.
This is a wine we have followed in a low-key way for a while – the 2016 is both a continuation of the success of recent vintages and a marked step up – as Neal Martin puts it “That’s the best Jean Faure that I have tasted at primeur“. It is elegant and restrained rather than blockbusterish, but it is shapely, classic, and has a great future, although it will probably drink quite young too. Click the link to read all the (very consistent) notes on the website. Strongly recommended, a wine to buy in Magnums – and to follow.
