Fronsac

Clos du Roy

A strong foothold and vision

Thirty years ago, Vendée-born agricultural engineer Philippe Hermouet began to knuckle down to the task of learning how to grow wine after he arrived ‘by chance’ in the Fronsac area. He bought Clos du Roy in Saillans, in the Fronsac appellation area, from his in-laws – the property shares its name with that of his wife, whose maiden name was Joëlle Roy. Philippe Hermouet also bought Château Roc Meynard around Tertre de Meynard, in the neighbouring village of Villegouge in the Bordeaux appellation area.

The original 10-hectare vineyard in 1987 now covers 50 hectares and both vines and technical infrastructures have been constantly reviewed over the years. The latest change came in spring 2018 with the planting of 8,000 Malbec vines which will broaden the aromatic spectrum of Vignobles Hermouet wines. The range is already famed for its diversity and stems from a high proportion of Merlot vines, complemented by Cabernet Franc, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Sauvignon blanc and Sémillon.

“The vineyard plots had to be entirely redesigned and the varietal range adapted to our mosaic of soil types and aspects – this is Fronsac! There is clay on the hillsides, rocky limestone outcrops on the plateau, ‘molasse du Fronsadais’ and sandy clay at the foot of the hills. Such a diverse array of soils enables us to make wines renowned for their ‘Fronsac complexity’ – they are naturally powerful with substantial ageability”, explains Philippe Hermouet, a staunch supporter of Fronsac to which he devotes part of his time as Chairman of the Fronsac Wine Council.

Environmental stewardship underpins the vineyard replanting programme and in 2018, the property joined the Environmental Management System. Fully aware of the natural wealth and complex ecosystem in their vineyards, Vignobles Hermouet have made a commitment to certification and relentlessly strive to preserve their soils and determination to pass their property on befittingly.

Consultant winemaker Bruno Lacoste has assisted Clos du Roy and Château Roc de Meynard since 2014. “Bruno’s operational and pragmatic vision, his precision in tasting for blending and the progress we have achieved together on our range of wines have led us to continue to enlist his help in his new venture in the In a Bottle Club by Oenoteam”.

WINE FACT SHEETS:

Clos du Roy

Fronsac

Sustainably farmed vineyards
Vineyard area: 22 ha
Soils: Clay-limestone hillsides and plateaux often with a high percentage of clay.
Varietal range: 90 % Merlot, 5 % Cabernet franc, 5 % Cabernet sauvignon.
Price: €15  including VAT ex-cellar.

Red Château Roc Meynard 

Red Bordeaux Supérieur

Sustainably farmed vineyards
Vineyard area: 26 ha
Soils: Clay-limestone hills often with a high percentage of clay.
Varietal range: 95 % Merlot, 5 % Cabernet sauvignon.
Price: €8 including VAT ex-cellar.

White Château Roc Meynard 

White Bordeaux

Sustainably farmed vineyards
Vineyard area: 2 ha
Soils: Clay-limestone hills with sandy clay at the foot of the hills.
Varietal range: 50 % Sauvignon blanc, 50 % Sémillon.
Price: €8 including VAT ex-cellar.