Chateau l’Isle Fort Bordeaux Superieur, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau l’Isle Fort Bordeaux Superieur with wine tasting notes, wine and food pairing tips, best vintages, a history of the property and information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau l’Isle Fort History, Overview

Chateau l’Isle Fort does not have much of a history as a wine producing estate in the Bordeaux region. In fact the property only dates back to the 2000 vintage. That is the year when the young Sylvie Douce and François Jeantet took over the existing property.

At the time of the purchase, the entire estate was in serious need of restoration, renovations and replanting of the vineyards.

Once they began to completely renovate the chateau, cellars, vat rooms and eplant vineyard, they brought in the experienced team of Stephane Derenoncourt to consult on the estate’s vineyard management techniques and wine making for the property.

Chateau l’Isle Fort Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The ​​9 hectare, Right Bank vineyard of Chateau l’Isle Fort is planted to 58% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Situated in the small, lesser known commune of Lignan, the vineyard, with its south facing exposure is planted to a vine density of 6,500 vines per hectare. The terroir is clay, limestone and sandy clay soils.

To produce the wine of Chateau l’Isle Fort, the vinification takes place in temperature controlled, stainless steel tanks. The grapes are whole berry fermented.

Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel. The wine of Chateau l’Isle Fort is aged in 40% new, French oak barrels for an average of 12 months before bottling. There is a second wine, La Chapelle de l’Isle. They also produce two different rose’ wines, Rose Ultime and l’isle Douce.

There is also a high-end cuvee produced from a selection of their best parcels, Cuvee Precieuse. Production here averages about 3,500 cases of wine per year.

The best vintages of Chateau l’Isle Fort are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2009 and 2005.

When to Drink Chateau l’Isle Fort, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau l’Isle Fort is better with at least 2-4 years of aging in good vintages. Young vintages can be decanted for up to 1 hour if desired.

Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau l’Isle Fort offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 2-12 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau l’Isle Fort with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau l’Isle Fort is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau l’Isle Fort is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised and grilled dishes. Chateau l’Isle Fort is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms and pasta.

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