【Bordeaux Supérieur】
【2020 Bordeaux Outstanding Vintage】
ZF1068 - Chateau La Freneraie Bordeaux Superieur 2020
Price：$108/bottle
Special price for six bottles: $528 (Average $88/bottle)
Type：Red Wine
Grape Varieties：65% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region：Bordeaux Superieur
ABV：14%
Volume：750ml
Winery
What makes Château La Fréneraie truly special is that its name itself tells a story.
The origin of "Frêneraie" (meaning "ash vineyard"). According to the winery's official introduction, the name pays homage to the origins of Freixenet—in the 19th century, it all began on the sun-drenched family land of Freixeneda (Catalan for "Frêneraie," meaning "ash vineyard") in Catalonia. Surrounded by ash and oak trees, it was ideal for producing "warm" style wines, perfect for enjoying with friends and family. Thus, this lineage from the Iberian Peninsula was inscribed on the Bordeaux label in the French form of "Frêneraie," becoming a testament to the convergence of two great wine traditions in Bordeaux.
The giant behind it: The Yvon Mau Group. La Fréneraie is actually operated by Yvon Mau, a long-established Bordeaux wine merchant giant. Founded in 1897 in the heart of Bordeaux, it is one of the oldest and largest wine merchants in Bordeaux, positioned as the "third largest wine group in Bordeaux." The brand's logo is a penny-farthing bicycle—a legend originating from the founder's son, Yvon, riding such a bicycle throughout Bordeaux's vineyards in search of fine wines. The group integrates wine merchants (négociant), its own brands, and wineries, marketing in France and exporting globally.
It also shares ties with Freixenet. In 2001, Yvon Mau was acquired by the renowned Spanish sparkling wine giant Freixenet Group, the world's ninth-largest wine group. This is why the La Fréneraie vineyard, meticulously managed by Yvon Mau since the 1980s, is officially designated as "cuvee d'héritage de nos racines espagnoles" (a wine rooted in our Spanish heritage)—a work of art using Bordeaux techniques to express Spanish melancholy.
Region
The Bordeaux Supérieur region, like regular Bordeaux, covers the entire Gironde department, but its best vineyards are concentrated north of Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, and on the Entre-Deux-Mers plateau between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers—the latter supplying approximately three-quarters of the Bordeaux Supérieur red wines, truly the region's "engine plateau." The soils are diverse and layered, ranging from gravelly sands on the left bank to clay-limestone on the right bank and between the Entre-Deux-Mers; the Atlantic maritime climate provides mild winters and summers, with annual rainfall of approximately 800–900 mm. The entire appellation covers approximately 10,000–12,000 hectares, producing about 45 million liters annually, accounting for about 17% of Bordeaux's total production.
Stricter regulations, higher quality. Compared to regular Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur sets higher standards in several dimensions: a minimum natural alcohol content of 10% (compared to 9.5% for regular Bordeaux); a yield per unit area that is about 10% lower (the maximum red grape load is about 9,000 kg/hectare); denser planting density (row spacing ≤ 2.2 meters, approximately 45,000 vines per hectare); higher ripeness and sugar content at harvest; and mandatory aging before release (newer regulations require at least 12 months in oak barrels). It is these "stricter" requirements that firmly elevate Bordeaux Supérieur above regular Bordeaux.
Winemaking
The winemaking process follows the traditional Bordeaux route of the Yvon Mau Group: temperature-controlled stainless steel tank fermentation to maximize aroma and freshness; moderate maceration to extract color, tannins, and flavor; malolactic fermentation to soften tannins and round the structure; moderate aging to maintain the bright expression of the vintage's fresh fruit; and finally, bottling at the estate. The overall style is approachable, characterized by "bright fruit aromas and classic savory flavors."
2020 was an outstanding vintage for Bordeaux, dubbed the "Merlot year" by many critics: a hot summer with occasional timely rains, resulting in high grape ripeness, rich fruit flavors, and fine tannins. This wine, dominated by 65% Merlot, perfectly captures the essence of this vintage's biggest winners.
