Over the years, L’Abeille has developed a strong identity of its own. Crafted with the same careful attention as Château de Fieuzal, it is conceived for light-hearted, easy-going enjoyment. Its fruit stems from the same vines as the first wine, grown with the same degree of care and preserving Fieuzal’s unique combination of freshness and finesse.

2020 saw a mild winter, warm wet spring, and dry summer. This meant that harvest was earlier than ever before. Flowering occurred in ideal conditions. ‘Veraison’ (the moment when the grapes change colour) was spectacularly precocious, with the vineyard seeming to cry out for a very early harvest.

The resultant wine has the weightiness you want from a good Bordeux Blanc, thanks to the majority of Sémillon in the blend. It has aromas of light stone fruit and almond peel. The palate is full-bodied, with high acidity and a mix of grapefruit and orange peel notes. There are secondary flavours of butterscotch and vanilla with a mineral finish.

This fantastically well balanced and complex wine would be a great accompaniment with steamed or grilled fish, fish pâtés, fish, chicken or vegetable terrines and pasta or risotto with spring vegetables. It also goes well with creamy vegetable soups.