Château Falfas

Located on one of the finest hillsides of the commune of Bayon, Château Falfas is truly the glory of the Bourgeais. In the 14th and 15th centuries, this fine estate belonged to the Lords of Lansac, an old nobility of the sword, loyal to the English crown. At that time, its wines were exported with privilege to the court of the Edwards. Then, in the 17th century, the château was acquired by the Sires de Rivaux, who bequeathed to the present building its Louis XIII style. At the end of the 17th century, the château passed to the house of the président à mortier of the parlement of Guyenne, Gaillard de Falfas, who had it restored and gave it his name. The renown of Falfas dates back several centuries. In the past it was so firmly established that one of its lords, owner of the cru, would deliver it only on condition that his Médoc wine was sold at the same time! Indeed, since the first edition of Bordeaux et ses Vins in 1850, Falfas has always figured among the first three or four crus of the appellation. With their arrival in 1988, John and Véronique Cochran, owner-growers, have never ceased to work to preserve for this cru its standing and prestige.
The vineyard is located on the southern slopes of the hillsides overlooking the right bank of the Gironde in this beautiful region nicknamed the “Gironde’s little Switzerland”. In its essentially clay-limestone soil, the vine roots deeply. Thus, in a mild climate, the result of the proximity of the Gironde estuary, the vine reaches full ripeness in ideal conditions.
Since the end of 1988, the Falfas vineyard has been cultivated according to biodynamic farming methods, out of respect for the plant, its environment and the consumer, controlled by an independent body that permits no synthetic product in the vineyard. Thus at Falfas, the land is maintained, ploughed and cultivated naturally, with respect for the biology of the soil.
Limited yields and severe selection of the grapes also favour quality, in the tradition of the great vineyards of France. Made from robust, healthy grapes, the wines of Falfas are the pure reflection of the typicity of the terroir, with no outside input. A hand harvest carried out at the highest degree of ripeness of the grapes, followed by long and careful vinification and ageing in barrels, ensure quality and excellent development in bottle for many years.
John and Véronique Cochran shared their passion, this art of living and this know-how until 2010, when John died.
Véronique Cochran, surrounded by her children, has continued this admirable work since, and Falfas remains incomparable and exceptional.