-June 9th 2025 –
At the start of this week, our vineyard tour takes us to Listrac-Médoc, to Château Fourcas Hosten, which features a geologically interesting vineyard, since the plots are located not only on Pyrenean gravel, as is typical of the Médoc, but also on an anticline of old limestone rocks where the white grape varieties (Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris, Semillon), some Merlot and Cabernet Franc are planted.
These soils are capable of retaining good levels of water, even in hot years, producing ripe grapes with fine, complex aromas. They are perfectly suited to white grape varieties and Merlot.
Notes on the climatology 2024-2025
Autumn and winter were mild and rather dry,
- in contrast to previous months, temperatures were above seasonal averages.
- in terms of rainfall, the total rainfall between October 1, 2024 and March 15, 2025 made the winter of 2024-2025 the second-wettest winter in 10 years.
The soils were able to dry out while retaining good reserves.
All this resulted in a lead of around 5-6 days compared with the multi-year average since 2000.
Bud-break began on 25 March in the earliest plots, corresponding to the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon plots pruned first in the gravel soils.
Current work in the vineyard
- under the vine rows to eliminate weeds.
- De-budding, which consists of removing the double buds in order to ventilate the sap flow and concentrate vigour on the productive buds. This operation takes a month and is entirely manual, but it is very important and has an indirect effect on the pruning that will be carried out the following winter.
Before and after de-budding
This year, the vines are growing well and fast.
Spring was sunny, and the weeks alternated between hot and very hot weeks and much cooler weeks, with temperatures sometimes varying by more than 10 degrees from one day to the next.
To contain all the shoots, the trellising wires were raised, an operation that lasted until the end of June.
On May 21st, 0,8 ha of cabernet sauvignon have been planted on the Fourcas plateau on gravel soils.
A smooth, even flowering
Flowering began on 19 May in most plots.
At present, the vines in the earliest plots are at the fruit set stage, while the vines planted in later plots are at the end of flowering, with the last flower buds falling off.
Below: Merlot flowering on 27 May
Work in the cellar – Fourcas Hosten's signature
The Listrac terroir, slightly further west in the Gironde, is renowned for its freshness, the quality of the white wines and the finesse of the tannins in the reds.
The estate vinifies all its reds in concrete vats, using gentle extractions followed by ageing in barrels and amphorae for 15%.
The whites are transferred directly to barrels after very slow vertical pressing, without settling to enhance their aromatic complexity. Slightly stirred for the first few months, the wines are aged on lees for 6 months.
Since 2024, the vats for the reds and barrels for the whites have been inoculated with indigenous yeasts selected from the vineyard.
New bottlings planned
- Château Fourcas Hosten white 2024 was bottled on 5 May 2025
- Château Fourcas Hosten red 2023 was bottled between 5 and 7 May 2025.
The still young vintage is shaping up to be a very aromatic one, with a fine complexity combining red and black fruit, a very silky, rich structure and a fresh finish.
The White of Fourcas Hosten
Blend of
- 63% Sauvignon blanc
- 17% Sauvignon gris
- 20% Semillon
After pressing in vertical press, the must is transferred by gravity to barrels and amphorae without settling. Fermentation under indigenous yeast without sulphiting.
Aged in barrels and amphorae for 6 months.
- 30% new 300L and 400L barrels
- 35% one-wine barrels
- 15% two-wine barrels
- 20% 7.5hl amphorae
The 2024 vintage was marked by a mild, wet winter, which favoured early, even budburst at the end of March.
The cooler spring slowed growth and delayed flowering, which took place in glorious sunshine at the end of May.
Veraison took place at the beginning of August, leading to a late harvest in mid-September.
- Sauvignon blanc from 12th to 24th of September
- Sauvignon gris from 12th to 23rd of September
- Sémillon on 19th and 23rd of September
This 2024 vintage is very expressive, with floral and citrus notes. The palate is explosive and saline. The finish is very mineral and fresh.
Château Fourcas Hosten 2023
Blend of
- 51% Merlot
- 44% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 5% Petit Verdot
Organic vinification adapted to each concrete vat: 13 vats of Merlot (50, 80 and 105), 8 vats of Cabernet Sauvignon and 1 vat of Petit Verdot. Fermentations average 10 to 14 days with indigenous yeasts. Total vatting time of 19 to 23 days. Vertical pressing only.
AGEING – 12 months
- 30% new barrels
- 30% one-wine barrels
- 25% two-wine barrels
- 15% amphorae
The 2023 vintage is a real winemaker’s vintage! The whole team worked hard to adapt to the extreme weather conditions: cold, rain, heat, storms, but to finish on a high note, with a fine Indian summer during our 11-day harvest until October.
- Merlot from 18th of September to 4th of October
- Cabernet Sauvignon from 29th of September to 6th of October
- Petit Verdot on 26th of September
Château Fourcas Hosten 2023, which is certified organic, is characterised by very good concentration, intense colour and very silky tannins. The nose is very expressive, with notes of red and black fruit thanks to the 15% ageing in amphora.
The attack on the palate is intense and the tannins present are very elegant thanks to the gentle extraction methods and the selection of barrels. The very long, fresh finish confirms the characteristics of this fine terroir.
New project - development of the oenotourism
If you’re visiting the Bordeaux region, don’t hesitate to come to the Château, taste the wines from several vintages and visit the estate and its 3-hectare park, a haven of peace and biodiversity.
You can also invite your customers to come and meet us – the doors are open!
We’re convinced that these are privileged moments for all of us, as they allow us to better convey the organic and biodynamic work done from the vine to the wine in this quest to best interpret the different terroirs of the vineyard.
The château is rich in two terroirs: the Fourcas plateau with Pyrenean gravel and the anticline of ancient limestone rocks. This unusual configuration explains the complexity of the wines and their ability to be enjoyed young and/or with several years of cellaring!
At the same time, a wine-tourism offer is being developed this year, with the ‘effet millésime’ experience with a choice of white or red, ‘Family’ extension available on all our tours, etc.
The estate is open on Saturdays from May to August from 10am to 6pm!
