Chateau Fayat Pomerol Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Fayat Pomerol

Learn everything about Chateau Fayat Pomerol with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairings. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Fayat, History, Overview

When the estate was created in 2006, it was known as Chateau Fayat Thunevin. At the time, it was a 50/50 partnership between Clement Fayat, who also owns Chateau La Dominique in St. Emilion as well as Chateau Clement Pichon in the Haut Medoc and Ets Thunevin, owned by Jean Luc Thunevin and Murielle Andraud of Valandraud fame.

The founders all shared the desire to produce outstanding wine in the Pomerol appellation. The partnership dissolved after the 2009 vintage. From that point forward the name of the Pomerol estate was updated to reflect the recent change in ownership from Fayat Thunevin to Chateau Fayat.

Today the Pomerol chateau is now known as Chateau Fayat. Jean Luc Thunevin continues to consult the winemaking and marketing at Chateau Fayat. Michel Rolland is also active here as a consultant.

Since 2009, Chateau Fayat was able to increase its holdings in Pomerol. This took place when the owner, Clement Fayat was able to merge land from three vineyards he began purchasing in 1984, Vieux Bourgneuf, Prieurs de la Commanderie, and Commanderie de Mazeyres.

A renovation and modernization of the estate took place coinciding with the creation of the much larger estate starting in 2009. In addition, they needed to put in a new drainage system and replant portions of the vineyard.

Chateau Fayat Pomerol

Chateau Fayat Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 16 hectare Pomerol vineyard of Chateau Fayat is quite large for Pomerol. The vineyard is planted to 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc on gravel, sand, and clay soils.

The average age of the vines is an impressive 50 years old. They have some of the oldest vines in the Pomerol appellation as they some Cabernet Franc that was planted in 1902! The vines are planted to a density of 6,000 vines per hectare for the old vines. Newer plantings are taking place at 9,000 vines per hectare.

Because the vineyard was cobbled together from various other estates, the terroir can vary. You can divide the vineyard into 31 parcels that also differ in elevations. At their peak, they have vines that rise up to 22 meters at their peak.

To produce the wine of Chateau Fayat, the wine is vinified in a combination of temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks and oak vats that range in size from 50 hectoliters to 80 hectoliters. This range of vat sizes allows for more precision during vinification.

Chateau Fayat is then aged in a combination of new, French oak barrels and vats. 70% of the wine is aged in 100% new, French oak barrels, the remaining wine is aged in vat for an average of 18 months before bottling. There is a second wine, Promesse de Chateau Fayat. On average, the production of Chateau Fayat is close to 4,500 cases of Pomerol per year.

The best vintages of Chateau Fayat are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010 and 2009.

When to Drink Chateau Fayat, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Fayat can be decanted for 1-2 hours or more. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Fayat offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 8-15 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Fayat with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Fayat is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Fayat is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Fayat is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

www.vignobles-fayat.com

Château Fayat Wine Tasting Notes

13 Vintages 32,954 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
92
With a floral edge to the cherries, and licorice on the nose, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, silky, vibrant and sweet. The fruits are on the black raspberry, and cherry side, with a hint of citrus on the fresh, mildly spicy backend. You can enjoy this on release or with just a year or two of age. The wine blends 95% Merlot with 5% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV, 3.7 pH. Drink from 2025-2037. 91-93 Pts.

With a floral edge to the cherries, and licorice on the nose, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, silky, vibrant and sweet. The fruits are on the black raspberry, and cherry side, with a hint of citrus on the fresh, mildly spicy backend. You can enjoy this on release or with just a year or two of age. The wine blends 95% Merlot with 5% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV, 3.7 pH. Drink from 2025-2037. 91-93 Pts.

1,608 Views   Tasted
2021
88
Medium-bodied, lighter-styled, fresh, cherry and plum filled, creamy wine with floral accents that can be enjoyed on release. The wine blends 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc, 13% ABV. Drink from 2023-2033. 87-89

Medium-bodied, lighter-styled, fresh, cherry and plum filled, creamy wine with floral accents that can be enjoyed on release. The wine blends 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc, 13% ABV. Drink from 2023-2033. 87-89

1,206 Views   Tasted
2020
92
Flowers, truffles and ripe, dark red pit fruit aromatics are all over the place here. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied is silky, polished and fresh with a vibrancy, purity and elegance that makes this by far, the best vintage of Fayat ever produced! This is a simply gorgeous Pomerol. Drink from 2023-2040.

Flowers, truffles and ripe, dark red pit fruit aromatics are all over the place here. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied is silky, polished and fresh with a vibrancy, purity and elegance that makes this by far, the best vintage of Fayat ever produced! This is a simply gorgeous Pomerol. Drink from 2023-2040.

1,034 Views   Tasted
2019
91
Flowers, smoke, dark red pit fruits and forest leaf scents make an appearence in the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, elegant, fresh and silky, forward and fruity with an open personality making this a treat to drink just about on release, this is the best vintage of Chateau Fayat I have ever tasted. Drink from 2023-2034.

Flowers, smoke, dark red pit fruits and forest leaf scents make an appearence in the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, elegant, fresh and silky, forward and fruity with an open personality making this a treat to drink just about on release, this is the best vintage of Chateau Fayat I have ever tasted. Drink from 2023-2034.

1,225 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, soft, forward and fruity with an open personality and a plummy, chocolate coated, black cherry essence. This is already so easy to drink that you can enjoy it for all of its polished fruity character in its youth, or age it for more complexity. 90-92 Pts

Medium-bodied, soft, forward and fruity with an open personality and a plummy, chocolate coated, black cherry essence. This is already so easy to drink that you can enjoy it for all of its polished fruity character in its youth, or age it for more complexity. 90-92 Pts

2,136 Views   Tasted
2018
90
Medium-bodied, lifted, soft, polished, sweet, bright, fresh cherries and red plums are accompanied by licorice, dark chocolate, coffee bean and herbs on the mid-palate and in the finish.

Medium-bodied, lifted, soft, polished, sweet, bright, fresh cherries and red plums are accompanied by licorice, dark chocolate, coffee bean and herbs on the mid-palate and in the finish.

1,020 Views   Tasted
Forward, soft, medium-bodied with a ready to go personality of red plums, licorice, smoke and espresso, finishing with a nice layer of ripe cherries and thyme. 88-90 Pts

Forward, soft, medium-bodied with a ready to go personality of red plums, licorice, smoke and espresso, finishing with a nice layer of ripe cherries and thyme. 88-90 Pts

3,144 Views   Tasted
2017
88
Wet earth, olives, herbs, thyme and cherry notes open the wine, medium bodied and on the bright, fresh side, there is an energetic red berry character to the finish. The wine was produced from 100% Merlot this year due to damage from the frost and product

Wet earth, olives, herbs, thyme and cherry notes open the wine, medium bodied and on the bright, fresh side, there is an energetic red berry character to the finish. The wine was produced from 100% Merlot this year due to damage from the frost and product

1,376 Views   Tasted
2016
89
Medium-bodied, with an earthy, olive and red plum character, the wine is forward, soft, polished and accessible, leaving you with an earthy cherry core of fruits. The wine was made from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

Medium-bodied, with an earthy, olive and red plum character, the wine is forward, soft, polished and accessible, leaving you with an earthy cherry core of fruits. The wine was made from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

1,949 Views   Tasted
Licorice, smoke and cherry liqueur scents on the nose bring you to a medium bodied, red berry, olive-oriented wine. With a quick touch of herbs to complicate matters. The wine was made from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and reached 14% ABV.

Licorice, smoke and cherry liqueur scents on the nose bring you to a medium bodied, red berry, olive-oriented wine. With a quick touch of herbs to complicate matters. The wine was made from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc and reached 14% ABV.

2,372 Views   Tasted
2015
87
Medium-bodied, bright, fresh, red fruits, earth, espresso and plummy notes in a forward, easy-drinking style. 86 - 88 Pts

Medium-bodied, bright, fresh, red fruits, earth, espresso and plummy notes in a forward, easy-drinking style. 86 - 88 Pts

2,261 Views   Tasted
2014
88
Ringing with anise, earth, herbs, espresso and dark cherry notes, this wine is soft, medium to full-bodied and already approachable. For 2014, the wine was produced from 100% Merlot and reached 13.5% ABV with pH of 3.8. 88-89 Pts

Ringing with anise, earth, herbs, espresso and dark cherry notes, this wine is soft, medium to full-bodied and already approachable. For 2014, the wine was produced from 100% Merlot and reached 13.5% ABV with pH of 3.8. 88-89 Pts

1,804 Views   Tasted
2013
85
Bright, forward, light, crisp, fresh, red berry oriented wine that exchanges complexity for early drinkability.

Bright, forward, light, crisp, fresh, red berry oriented wine that exchanges complexity for early drinkability.

1,251 Views   Tasted
From 100% Merlot and with a nose of wet earth, citrus and red berries, this medium-bodied wine is bright on the palate and ends with dark chocolate-covered raspberries. 87-89 Pts

From 100% Merlot and with a nose of wet earth, citrus and red berries, this medium-bodied wine is bright on the palate and ends with dark chocolate-covered raspberries. 87-89 Pts

1,361 Views   Tasted
2012
87
The wine is medium bodied and forward, with sweet, red cherries and floral scents, ending in a soft textured finish.

The wine is medium bodied and forward, with sweet, red cherries and floral scents, ending in a soft textured finish.

2,172 Views   Tasted
Flowers, cherries and cocoa scents open to a medium-bodied Pomerol with ample soft textures and sweet red cherries in the finish. 88-90 Pts

Flowers, cherries and cocoa scents open to a medium-bodied Pomerol with ample soft textures and sweet red cherries in the finish. 88-90 Pts

2,251 Views   Tasted
2010
88
Medium bodied, forward, lighter style of Pomerol, with freshness, soft textures, but not a lot of depth to the red plums and cherries, although there is a nice thyme and espresso note in the nose that adds to the wine.

Medium bodied, forward, lighter style of Pomerol, with freshness, soft textures, but not a lot of depth to the red plums and cherries, although there is a nice thyme and espresso note in the nose that adds to the wine.

2,649 Views   Tasted
2009
89
Soft, elegant and charming, this medium bodied Pomerol is filled with dark cherries, strawberries and spice. This wine will deliver pleasure early.

Soft, elegant and charming, this medium bodied Pomerol is filled with dark cherries, strawberries and spice. This wine will deliver pleasure early.

2,135 Views   Tasted