Château Haut-Carles

The estate

Château de Carles took its present form in the 15th and 16th centuries, on the mound at Saillans where, by local tradition, Charlemagne camped. In the 18th century it belonged to the marquise de Boufflers, a friend of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and for more than 100 years it was the house of the Chastenet de Castaing family. Constance and Stéphane Droulers own it today and make 2 wines here, Château de Carles and Haut-Carles.

The 19 hectares lie on clay and limestone over the molasse of the Fronsadais, planted 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec, with vines 35 years old on average, and are certified Haute Valeur Environnementale (High Environmental Value, the French state’s environmental certification for farms), level 3. The wine is made in temperature-controlled steel vats and aged in French oak.

At a glance

Appellation

Fronsac

Commune

Saillans

Classification

No classification

Owners

Constance and Stéphane Droulers

Vineyard

19 hectares; vines 35 years old on average

Ground

Clay and limestone over the molasse of the Fronsadais

Grapes

Merlot 90%, Cabernet Franc 5%, Malbec 5%

Farming

Haute Valeur Environnementale, level 3

Cellar

Temperature-controlled steel vats; French oak

Wines

Haut-Carles; Château de Carles

Sources: Vins de Fronsac, Château de Carles · Vins de Fronsac, Château de Carles, in French · Mairie de Saillans, Château de Carles