As Paolo Basso, Best Sommelier of the World, stayed in Bordeaux some time after the En Primeurs, Silvio Denz welcomed him at Château Faugères, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé. A beautiful meeting while the owner of Lalique also received his team of the restaurant Villa Lalique in Alsace, among who Romain Iltis, Best Sommelier of France and One of France's Best Craftsmen, and starred Chef Jean-Georges Klein.
Château Faugères is a 37-hectare property covering the most beautiful terroirs of Saint-Emilion. Planted on the limestone plateau and the clay and limestone hillsides, the Merlots (85%), Cabernets Francs (10%) and Cabernets Sauvignons (5%) give rich and generous wines with a lovely freshness.
Château Faugères is part of an overall logic. The Silvio Denz vineyards count 5 domains in the region of Bordeaux. As a wine and terroir lover, Silvio Denz considers he owes them the best. He initiated eco-friendly viticulture. The Chateaus Péby-Faugères, Faugères and Cap de Faugères have been awarded the environment certification ISO 14001 in 2009, and the chateaus Chambrun and Rocheyron receive the same care.
The result saught-after by Silvio Denz and manager Alain Dourthe is to get the best expression of these very old soils. The classification as Grands Crus Classés of Péby-Faugères and Faugères evidences the result and is a beautiful reward.
Silvio Denz is a driven man. From an early age, he is rocked by scents. The family company that he took over then sold to Marionnaud distributed perfumes. He created his own business Art & Fragrance. Perfume flask collector, he had the opportunity to take over the Lalique crystal manufacture who was then in the middle of a crisis in 2008. The assets of the company included René Lalique's villa.
As an aesthete and gourmet, wine lover and collector, he decided not to let the building fall in disuse and to turn it into a hotel and restaurant, aiming at the label Relais & Châteaux and 5 stars. To succeed, he employed the best. Swiss architect Mario Botta (who built the cathedral cellar of Faugères) is in charge of the site. Jean-Georges Klein, triple-starred chef at Arnsbourg, and Romain Iltis, Best Sommelier of France and Best Craftsman of France, already started the creation of the restaurant menu and the wine list, said to become one of the most beautiful of Europe. Opening planned in September 2015.
To get acquainted with the wines of the Silvio Denz Vineyards, the future team of the Villa Lalique came to spend a few days in Bordeaux on last April. A visit that Silvio Denz made coincide with Paolo Basso's coming. With the presence of two Best Sommeliers, the tasting in the cellar was especially constructive for Silvio Denz and Alain Dourthe. After a vertical tasting of Château Faugères (2005- 06-07-08-09-10-11-12-14) and Château Péby-Faugères (2004-05-06-07-08-09-10-11-12-14), the host invited his guests over an exceptional dinner accompanied with not less exceptional wines of its vineyards but not only as his personal cellar holds some magnificent treasures.
Sylvia van der Velden
Château Faugères 2009
A ripe fruitiness, aromatic herbs, fine woodiness. Rich and generous, warm, mellow, full-bodied, savoury palate with numerous and noble tannins, long-lasting aftertaste. A grand wine. Ageing: 2018-2040
Château Péby Faugères 2010
Ink and flint, concentrated, pepper and a lovely toasted note, fine vanilla-scented woodiness. Richness and volume, mellow, full-bodied, elegant extraction, round and coated tannins, intense and persistent finish. Very grand wine.
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