ABOUT: Chateau Falfas is located on the right bank of the Gironde river in Bordeaux’s Cotes de Bourg. Vineyards have been in the area since the 2nd century AD and the area is littered with Roman fortification sites. The chateau itself was built in the 17th century and is built atop a foundation from the Hundred Years’ War. Veronique Cochran works 20 hectares of Merlot, Cabernet, Cabernet Franc and Malbec using biodynamic practices. Interestingly, her parents made wine in Saumur and her father, Francois Bouchet wrote a book titled Biodynamic Agriculture: how to apply it to vineyards. He was unquestionably a biodynamic pioneer and it’s no wonder Veronique is passionate about it as well. It’s hard to stress just how much of an outsider they are in Bourg, in a sustainable league of their own. Very few are as dedicated to biodynamic viticulture and good husbandry as Chateau Falfas. And bonus! the wines are pretty great. This wine, the Le Chevalier, was introduced in 1990 and is made of a blend of the oldest Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon vines they have. Their most Bordeaux Bordeaux. TASTE:This is what Beaune Imports has to say about this beauty – “80% Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot. This is a truly great vintage for Le Chevalier. Produced from vines over 75 years old, this is the reserve wine of the estate. Aged 18 months in new French oak barrels, this wine shows deep dark red fruit with notes of chocolate and cedar. It will show well from four years after the harvest on and will benefit from up to 15 years of age. A classic Bordeaux.” PAIR: Grilled and smoked tofu, gouda, stilton, hollandaise sauce all over eggs and fried peppers, and shitake mushroom fried rice.
