La Colombière, biodynamic wines from Fronton
The vineyard has been part of Château La Colombière since the 15th century and has been managed by Philippe and Diane Cauvin since 2006. Our winemakers, who are passionate about Fronton, run their estate using biodynamic methods to produce rich, complex and well-balanced wines.
Their secret: passion, respect for nature, humility, patience and meticulous care in tending to the plants.
Negrette and Bouysselet, unique indigenous grape varieties
Fronton (a small appellation in south-western France) is fortunate to be home to a little-known and unusual indigenous grape variety, the Négrette. It produces dark wines that develop aromas of violets and red or black fruits, as well as hints of liquorice and subtle spicy notes that sometimes give it a slight resemblance to Syrah. A truly unique character!
Furthermore, the estate has revived another indigenous grape variety, Bouysselet, a descendant of the Savagnin from the Jura and the Plant de Cauzette from the Béarn region. It was originally called Prunelard Blanc, due to its ampelographic resemblance to its black counterpart from Gaillac. It is now being revived at Château La Colombière. It is the only place where it can be rediscovered, thanks to a unique grafting project carried out on 0.7 hectares in 2011, followed by 1 hectare in 2015. The vines were sourced from prunings of a pre-phylloxera, ungrafted plot in Villaudric. They were grafted onto a 15-year-old Négrette plot. Highly sought-after by the people of Fronton, Bouysselet is awaiting official registration in the register of forgotten old grape varieties. But it is already sparking interest and curiosity among serious wine enthusiasts.
Biodynamics & natural methods
As soon as they arrived, Philippe and Diane Cauvin set about converting their estate to organic farming and then to biodynamic farming. The exceptional quality of their wines reflects the hard work they have put in: no weedkillers, no chaptalisation, no added yeasts, no fining, and no oenological additives. Instead, they focus on soil management and the use of native plants such as chamomile and fern.
A few photos of La Colombière in Fronton
