Clos Du Roy Fronsac AC, Vignobles Hermouet

Description

Clos du Roy is a red Bordeaux wine from the Fronsac appellation of Bordeaux. It is a small property situated in the village of Saillons, overlooking the Vallée de l’Isle.

Family Owned by Vignobles Hermouet

The first vintage of Clos du Roy was made in 1970. Prior to this, the grapes were sold for making bulk wine. The current owners of Clos du Roy, Vignobles Hermouet, acquired the estate in 1987, completing their 30th harvest in 2017.

Family-owned Vignobles Hermouet consists of two properties, Clos du Roy with 22 hectares of vineyard and Château Roc Meynard (a Bordeaux Superieur), which covers 75 hectares (12 under vine) surrounding the Meynard butte in Villegouge village.

Clos du Roy Vineyards

The soils are limestone and clay, with a dominant proportion of clay, soils to which Merlot is particularly suited. The vineyard is planted at a higher density than the appellation requires, with 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Clos du Roy Winemaking

• Grapes for this Fronsac wine are fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel after harvest.
• Grapes undergo a gentle pressing in a small vertical press.
• Wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in tank.
• Wine is aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, with one-third being new.
• Cuvée composition is typically 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
• Production is approximately 60,00 bottles per vintage.

A perfect gift for anyone called Roy!

The Fronsac Appellation

The French wine-growing appellation of Fronsac is 40 km northeast of Bordeaux and 5 km northwest of Libourne and the Saint-Emilion and Pomerol appellations. Like its more famous neighbours, it is a region dominated by the Merlot grape. It encompasses seven communes: Fronsac, La Rivière, Saint-Germain-de-la-Rivière, Saint-Aignan, Saillans, Saint-Michel-de-Fronsac, and Galgon.

The region features clay, limestone, and sandstone soils with some areas having “Fronsac molasses” (a mix of clay, chalk and sand). The climate is maritime, influenced by the Dordogne River, with mild winters and warm summers allowing gradual grape ripening for balanced acidity.

Fronsac is still well-known for being a great value for money French red wine compared to its neighbours in Pomerol.