Château Gaby & Château Moya

This week I propose to you to discover a property perched on one of the smallest appellations in Bordeaux, but great on both the quality of these wines: Chateau Gaby (AOC Canon-Fronsac).

Romantic building from the 18th century, surrounded by a vineyard of the 17th century (1660), it has belonged for over 250 years to the family De Kermoal.

Over the past 20 years, the area has repeatedly changed ownership but with the acquisitions in 1999 by the family Khayat and in 2006 by the Curl family that significant investment has been made to ensure that Gaby found her letters of nobility.

David Curl, the current owner, managing entrusted to Pierre Rebaud (pink in the photo) and Damien Landouar (the director). The former dealing with all of the communication/marketing, the latter being responsible for the vineyard and the winemaking.
It has been nearly a year since this dynamic team, eager to improve their environmental performance and their terroir, has taken up a new challenge: the biological conversion.

It’s good but what does it mean for French wines? A conversion into organic wine is a wine that meets all the requirements of the specifications of organic viticulture. However a transition phase of 3 years, between conventional viticulture and organic viticulture is required to be certified AB.

Some features:

• 4 wines: Château Gaby (Canon-Fronsac AOC), Chateau Les Roches Gaby (Canon-Fronsac AOC), “Cuvée Gaby” (Canon-Fronsac AOC), PINK GABY (Rose)
• Chateau Gaby: 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is aged in barrels, 55% of new barrels (gives hints of wood and toasted) and 45% of a barrel two years ago.
• Chateau Les Roches Gaby 2009: 85% Merlot 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. It was 100% in barrels for one to two years.
• Cuvée Gaby: 100% Merlot, 100% new barrels
• Uses natural sulphites
• Practice particular vintage. A strict selection of Buds is performed to keep only half (“vendanges vertes”).

The difference between the harvest and the “vendange en vert” ? The second is to remove the vines are still green clusters to facilitate the maturation of other clusters, the first is to select the buds before … the plant does not work for nothing … In both cases the wine will be more concentrated, the winemaker therefore chosen to favor quality over quantity

The story of the week will not be on the Chateau Gaby, but on his name?

Canon-Fronsac: Where does the name of this AOC? In 1154 Eleanor of Aquitaine (Queen of Aquitaine area, a French area before the union of French kingdom) married the King of England Henry Plantagenet, making Aquitaine English. In order to train, the English army drew from these hills, cannonballs. Regarding “Fronsac” this is the name of the village down side.

As the name of the Chateau he might make reference to the famous “Gabares” (French traditional boat) scrolling down against …. (great views not to miss!)

Thanks to Pierre Rebaud his hospitality

Choukroun Chicheportiche Jonathan

Château Gaby
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Lieu dit Gaby
33126 Fronsac – France
Tel. : +33 (0) 5 57 51 24 97
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