At the northern end of the St-Émilion appellation, neighbour to Château Cheval Blanc, with the likes of Château Figeac and Pomerol's Château L'Évangile a few hundred metres away, Château Jean Faure is a cru of historical status in exceptional company. With over 60% of its vineyard planted to Cabernet Franc, this is that rare Bordeaux estate whose Grand Vin is led by the grape that most treat as a supporting character - a wine defined by perfume, restraint and a sophistication worthy of its distinction, yet one that remains deliciously accessible.
The Estate
While the estate’s history can be traced back to 1568, its position among the ranks of St-Émilion’s top estates first came in the mid-1850s when it was mentioned alongside the likes of Château Figeac in early editions of the Féret’s guide to the wines of Bordeaux at the time. By the 1893 edition, Château Jean Faure had been elevated to premier cru status with the remark “this growth produces an exquisite wine, highly aromatic and of …