Chateau Saint Ferréol

Chateau Saint Ferréol

The history of the Chateau of Saint Ferréol dates back to 822. Located in the Herault valley of the Languedoc region of Southern France. Wine has been produced at the Chateau, formerly a Priory since records began in 1146. In 1988 Chateau Saint Ferreol was one of only 3 Coteaux de Languedoc vineyards listed in Sotheby’s guide to fine wines.

Chateau Saint Ferréol has been under our guardianship since 1998. We are seeking to restore the vineyards to their former glory but with an extra ecological approach to sustainable viticulture.

Terroir

The Languedoc-Roussillon region is France’s largest wine producing region and vineyard area, with roughly one-third of all French wines produced here. The greater Languedoc-Roussillon region is also the largest vineyard area in the world with more than 21,000 wine estates and 246,000 hectares of vineyards in the region.

The Languedoc is situated along the Mediterranean coast running from Spain in the South to Nimes in the North. Owing to its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea, the region is known for its typically hot summers and mild autumns, springs and winters.

As a vast geographical region it also has numerous micro-climates including mountainous regions in the north, coastal regions along the Mediterranean and southern regions with temperature variations and lots of sun. The central region has little rain and higher temperatures, and the western region has more continental and Atlantic influences. Rain fall is low throughout the region, but the calcareous soils help to retain the water for a healthy root system.

The soils too are diverse. While the dominant soil types are clay and limestone, calcareous soils, gravel and schist are also found throughout.

Chateau Saint Ferréol is located in the midst of Coteaux de Languedoc, surrounded by hilly terrain that is largely AOC and bordered by the river Boyne. Saint Ferreol’s terroir is sandy loam, clay loam, and silt. The combination of the sand's drainage and the clay's ability help our vines uptake nutrients as well as increase their water-holding capacity. The silt also helps with heat retention and water holding

The Vineyard

Our aim in breathing new life into the vineyard was to set up a sustainable, ecological and economical agriculture, whilst reducing all environmental impact of agricultural activity on soil, air and water quality. Hence our subscription to Terra Vitis , a certification standard of sustainable viticulture in collaboration with the Chamber of Agriculture. From planning and planting vines to the final wine in bottle we respect all the rules set out in the Terra Vitis charter. Transparency in everything we do in the vines and the cellar. As a Terra Vitis certified domaine we are automatically awarded level 2 of High Environmental Value

Regular pruning, environmental vine treatment ( including a flock of sheep for weed management ) and essential watering are all key in maintaining our healthy vineyard. Careful selection of the grapes and timing of harvesting are critical to producing our exceptional Saint Ferréol wines.

New plantations

With a view to expanding our portfolio of wines, 2022 has seen the plantation of Syrah and Grenache Gris.

The Winery

At Chateau Saint Ferréol our overriding aim is to create classical, top quality wine.

The underground cathedral like cellar maintains the perfect temperature year round to both age and store wines. Renovation is an ongoing process. The winery now has modern equipment to facilitate the production of high quality wine but mastery of traditional methodology is crucial to create classical & elegant complex flavours.

Vinification

Our Viognier mout undergoes a two part vinification alcoholic and in part malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels

Regular battonage enhances the oncosity and flavour

The Viognier ages in the oak barrels for a minimum of 8 months before final assemblage

Reviews

Saturday, 1 November 2008 Anthony Rose

Best Wines of October 2008

Under twenty pounds
Château Saint Ferreol (France) Viognier 2006

Most attempts by winemakers around the world to emulate the great Viognier wines of Condrieu have failed miserably in my opinion. Even in Condrieu and other appellations of the northern Rhône, many Viognier producers cannot avoid a certain flabbiness that can make 'serious' Viognier wines tiring to taste, let alone drink. This Languedoc-Roussillon wine is an absolute star however, and I would put my neck on the line and say possibly the best Viognier I have tasted outside of Condrieu - indeed one of the best full stop. It is a fantastically aromatic example that moves this variety up to another plane. The nose has masses of herbs and downy peach skins, little floral notes, and lots of exotic tamarind and lychee. The palate has lovely grapefruity tang, with freshness allied to a little vanilla smoothness and weight. A great Viognier.

Simon Field MW October 2008

"A really exciting find; a Southern French Viognier that tastes just like a Condrieu, without, merci Dieu, the Condrieu price tag. Made in the enclave of Nizas, close to Montpellier and fermented and matured in a significant majority of oak, this is a terrific wine. The Viognier roll-call of dried apricot, peach kernel and honeysuckle is present and correct. The texture is suitably rich and hedonistic, but there is an impressive mineral grip at the back which effortlessly propels the wine into the highest quality echelons."

Jamie Goode MW February 2008

Domaine St Ferreol Viognier 2006 Vin de Pays d'Oc, France

Very impressed by tonight's wine, a Viognier from the South of France. It wasn't so long ago that Viognier was a rarity. Now it seems everyone is growing it, especially in the Languedoc. Growing Viognier is one thing; doing it well is another matter - but Anna and Jorje Maslakiewicz seem to have got it just right. Their success has come by skill and hard work: they identified the style they wanted to make, took great care in the vineyard and cellar, and then benchmarked their wine against other Viogniers until they were sure they'd got it right. The results are impressive.Lovely stuff. Beautifully aromatic nose with tangerine peel, apricot, honey and vanilla notes. The palate has a lovely texture and great balance, with bright fruit, a hint of sweetness and a rich texture. Rich but not too rich, this is the qualitative equal of a good Condrieu. 90/100