Château l'Eden
Brand Description
Château l'Eden is a family-owned estate in Saint-Christoly-Médoc, a small village located on the Gironde Estuary just 15km north of Saint-Estèphe. The winery was founded in 2016 by Amélie and Fabien Faget, a winemaking couple who dreamed of owning their own little “Eden” in Bordeaux. Fabien Faget is the full-time technical director of Château Meyney in Saint-Estèphe, and is familiar with the windy ocean climate of the northern Médoc. Their eight hectares of vines lie in sandy clay and gravel soils which provide an ideal terroir for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The label depicts the tail of a peacock.
Location of Vineyard
The Médoc AOP is located to the north and west of Saint-Estèphe where soils transition from the gravel croupes typical of the Haut-Médoc, to clay and sand which favor Merlot. Here in the Médoc’s northernmost reaches, the forest’s ability to buffer Atlantic wind and rain is reduced. The area’s best wines come from vineyards located closest to the river and Château l'Eden sits on the edge of the Gironde Estuary which offers a privileged climate. The vineyard is planted to 5,000 vines per hectare with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. The average age is 40 years and farming is certified sustainable.
Winemaking and Viticulture Philosophy
“My winemaking philosophy is to aim at limiting as much as possible our impact on the environment,” says Fabian. He adds, “I like to punch the cap down daily during maceration to enable softer extraction,” a departure from the standard Bordeaux technique of pumping-over. A third of the wine is aged in 30% new French and American oak barrels for 12 months. The other two thirds age in stainless-steel tanks to keep the fruitiness and avoid the taste of wood. “Merlot brings the fruit and the flexibility,” says Fabian, “and the structure of the wine is brought by Cabernet Sauvignon.”
Winery Profile
Winemaker: Amélie and Fabien Faget
Total acreage under vine: 20
Founded: 2016
Production: 55000
Acclaim
— acclaim for 2021 Château l'Eden Médoc from James Suckling, May 2022
— acclaim for 2019 Château l'Eden Médoc from Vinous, Feb 2022
