Château Fleur La Mothe

This triangular-shaped peninsula bordering the Gironde estuary has both superb terroir and a long winegrowing tradition. Stretching about 80 km from north to south, the Médoc comprises approximately 15,000 hectares of vines.

It has a mild, oceanic climate with frequent showers. Fortunately, this precipitation is fairly evenly spread out through the year. It rains often from late autumn to early spring, replenishing the water table at a time when the vines are dormant. Spring weather in the Medoc is conducive to early bud break and June sunshine is propitious to even flowering. In addition, the Medoc’s warm, dry summers are ideal for ripening.

Classified a Cru Bourgeois since 1932, Château Fleur La Mothe (formerly called Château La Mothe) is located in the commune of Saint-Yzans du Medoc.

The estate's name comes from its gravel rises (mothe means "mound" in the local patois)

Most of the vines overlook the estuary, which has a regulating effect on temperature and protects the vines from spring frosts.

The gravel soil provides excellent natural drainage.

These advantages, combined with winemaking know-how, result in wines of great complexity.

For the 2015 vintage, with an increase of Petit-Verdot representing 14% of the final blend bringing more complexity and concentration. Planted on a suitable soil, this grape adds an interesting touch to the wine, both on the aromatic palette and in the tannic structure.

In 2015, the plot was expanded by almost one hectare on which a complete restructuring was carried out during the winter.

In 2015, following the hail episode in 2014, the weakened vine required more precautions and many passages of green work in order to have an optimized leaf area, a guarantee of quality during maturation. The focus was therefore on soil cultivation with the acquisition of kress * cultivators. With this new tool, Fleur La Mothe offers itself a greater field of action in the maintenance of its soils allowing to intervene in a larger number of situations. ...

Château Fleur La Mothe, a field of experimentation, a source of reflection for Oenoconseil oenologists-consultants

This 15-hectare vineyard is a veritable field of open-air experimentation. Oenoconseil consultants can put their philosophy and practice into practice

Since 2008 investments and efforts bear fruit:

A vat with small stainless steel vats for better plot selection

The most important thing is the working tool that knows from year to year improvements. The installation in the winery of a series of smaller vats will allow to fine-tune the parcel management. The 2012 vintage is the first to benefit from these new installations.

On the vine side, soils fully worked since 2012

Each year, extra efforts are made in the vineyard to improve quality. Antoine Médeville, Edouard Massie and Henri Boyer are proud to say that the entire soil is now worked in respect of farming methods and the environment.

All these efforts concerning the commitment of vines cultivated in sustainable viticulture were crowned in 2016 with the obtaining of the TERRA VITIS certification whose 2015 vintage is the first to benefit from it.

Inauguration for the 2014 harvest of the crate

Hit by hail in June 2014, Château Fleur La Mothe opted for a 100% manual harvest with careful sorting to get the best of this 'small' crop in quantity but 'big' in quality.

For the other years, mechanical harvesting with an on-board sorter makes it possible to optimize the harvesting plan which must be done at perfect maturity. The grapes are preserved and of high quality on their arrival in the cellars. A sorting table makes it possible to eliminate any grains deemed insufficiently qualitative.

Fermentation with punching

The technique of punching that replaces the pumping during two thirds of the fermentation is interesting when it is reasoned. Practiced on the Petit Verdot and part of Merlots harvested at full maturity, it allows a smooth extraction of tannins and thus avoids hardening wines.

A breeding 100% barrels

After a long vatting but adapted to the typicality of the vintage, the wine is aged in oak barrels. All necessary care is provided, no detail is neglected to preserve, reveal the wine.