Learn everything about Chateau Faurie de Souchard with wine tasting notes, wine, and food pairing tips, 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 Faurie de Souchard History, Overview
The birth of Chateau Faurie de Souchard dates back to 1851 when the estate was created. However, documents exist showing some activity was taking place at the same location in 1808.
Originally, the vineyard was part of a much larger estate that included what became Chateau Petit Faurie de Souchard and Chateau Petit Faurie de Soutard. All those estates were once a part of the much larger Saint Emilion estate, Chateau Soutard.
The Right Bank property took its name from one of its early, former owners, the De Souchard family. The first part of the name took its inspiration from the battle of Faurie, which took place during the hundred years war.
Until 1969, the wines were sold under the name of Petit Faurie de Souchard. The Petit part of the name was dropped from subsequent vintages. Chateau Faurie de Souchard was owned and managed by the Jabiol family until 1983.
They purchased the estate in 1933. In 1983, Françoise Sciard took over the responsibility of managing the estate. In 2006, the estate passed to her children who renovated the wine-making facilities and cellars and brought in Stephane Derenoncourt to consult.
Prior to the addition of the Derenoncourt team as consultants, the wines of Chateau Faurie de Souchard were more traditional in style, lacking the ripeness and flesh they show today.
In January 2014, the Dassault family, the owners of Chateau Dassault, which is also located in Saint Emilion purchased Chateau Faurie de Souchard from the Sicard family. Following the sale, Michel Rolland was brought in to replace Stephane Derenoncourt as Rolland was already working with the owners at Chateau Dassault. 2021 is the final vintage for Faurie de Souchard. Starting with the 2022 vintage, the vines were added to Chateau Dassault.
Chateau Faurie de Souchard Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
The 12-hectare vineyard of Chateau Faurie de Souchard is planted to 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The terroir is chalk, clay, limestone, and sandy soils. On average the vines are close to 30 years of age. Located east of the Saint Emilion, the vineyard had a cooler terroir, due to its north-facing exposure and clay soils.
To produce the wine of Chateau Faurie de Souchard, whole berry fermentation takes place in thermo-regulated cement vats. The wine is aged in 35% new, French oak barrels for between 12 to 16 months, depending on the character and quality of the vintage.
The best vintages of Chateau Faurie de Souchard are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2010, 2009 and 2005.
There is a second wine, Pavillon de Souchard, which made its debut in 2007. The average annual production of Chateau Faurie de Souchard is close to 3,500 cases per year.
When to Drink Chateau Faurie de Souchard, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Faurie de Souchard is better with at least 3-5 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. Chateau Faurie de Souchard is best enjoyed in the first 4-12 years of life.
Young vintages can be decanted for about 1 hour or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Serving and Decanting Chateau Faurie de Souchard with Wine and Food Pairings
Chateau Faurie de Souchard is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau Faurie de Souchard is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.
Chateau Faurie de Souchard is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.
Château Faurie de Souchard Wine Tasting Notes
11 Vintages 39,502 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
2021
Château Faurie de Souchard (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Bright red berries with a vibrant, savory, herbal and peppery edge to the fruits are found in the nose and on the palate of this medium-bodied, crunchy wine. Drink from 2023-2035. 91-90 1,373 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
2020
Château Faurie de Souchard (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Lush, opulent, sweet, ripe fruits coat your palate and stay there. Medium-bodied, yet with an ample depth of flavor, the supple finish lingers with fruit, cocoa, coffee bean, and Indian spices. Drink from 2023-2040. 914 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023Spicy red berries with savory accents on the nose mov you to a medium-bodied, bright, crisp, firm, sweet and tart wine. 89-91 Pts 1,605 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
2019
Château Faurie de Souchard (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Flowers, espresso beans, smoke, licorice, black and red fruits come alive on the nose as well as on the soft, round, plush, polished, vibrant, red berry packed palate. The oak almost fully integrated. Give this just a bit of time before pulling a cork. Drink from 2024-2036. 2,175 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Floral, with smoke, espresso, licorice, coffee bean and dark red fruits on the nose. Deep and plush, with loads of ripe, dark red berries, the finish is still a bit oaky. Give this 4-5 years to better integrate before pulling a cork. 89-91 Pts 3,574 Views Tasted Jun 8, 2020 |
2018
Château Faurie de Souchard (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Showing much better in bottle than it did in barrel, the wine displays its nose of espresso bean, plum, dark cherry, flower and licorice nose as soon as the wine hits your glass. Soft, smooth, round and juicy, the fruit offers a good sense of purity on the palate and in the finish. 910 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021Espresso, licorice, smoke and red fruit define the core of this wine. Medium-bodied, round and soft, the wine will be nice to enjoy early in life and for at least 10-12 years after release. 89-91 Pts 1,724 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
2016
Château Faurie de Souchard (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium bodied, fresh, forward, red cherry centered wine with a nice note of thyme and flowers. This is already quite charming to drink today and will get even better over the next few years. 2,417 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2019Medium bodied, fresh, sweet cherries and thyme with a note of mint in the soft-textured finish just to flesh things out. 1,768 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
2015
Château Faurie de Souchard (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
The debut vintage for the new owners, the Dassault family is medium bodied, and focused on its red fruits, smoke and vanilla, espresso character. Forward, and soft, the wine feels like its trying just a bit too much in this vintage. With time, if the oak melds deeper into the wine, this could be a much better experience. 2,305 Views Tasted Mar 12, 2018Medium bodied, with an earthy espresso and cherry character, the wine is round, soft, but a little pushed and has some dryness, in the licorice, oak and red berry finish. This is the debut vintage from the new owners, the Dassault family. With it's terroir, subsequent vintages will probably be better. 2,525 Views Tasted Nov 22, 2017Medium-bodied with the unusual essence of seaweed added to herbal, cherry nose, this wine shows an oak and cherry finish. 2,220 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2016 |
2014
Château Faurie de Souchard (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
With the aroma of earth, fresh fallen leaves and red fruit, this wine has a slight drying finish. 84-86 Pts 1,995 Views Tasted Apr 27, 2015 |
2012
Château Faurie de Souchard (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Medium bodied, fruity, with an herbal and cherry nose that carries through. The tannins have a slight rustic quality to them. 1,878 Views Tasted Nov 8, 2015Herbs, dark red fruits, round tannins and a spicy red berry finish are found in this wine. 88-90 Pts 2,067 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2013 |
2011
Château Faurie de Souchard (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
With floral, stone and black cherry, this wine has medium body and drying tannins. 85-87 Pts 2,461 Views Tasted Apr 24, 2012 |
2010
Château Faurie de Souchard (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
Over the years, this has developed nicely. The wine is medium-bodied, fresh, round, soft and focuses on its smoky, thyme, espresso black cherry and plum core of fruits on the nose and palate. 2,032 Views Tasted Sep 14, 2020 |
2009
Château Faurie de Souchard (St. Émilion Grand Cru)
With a nose of jammy berries, black cherry, stone and earthy scents, the wine ends with soft textures and some green notes in the otherwise, ripe berry filled finish. 2,725 Views Tasted Jul 18, 20112009 Faurie de Souchard opens with crushed stone, blackberry, and licorice scents. This round style of wine will drink early. 87-89 Pts 2,834 Views Tasted Jun 28, 2010 |