From fencing master to winemaker: three generations in Fronsac
The history of the estate begins in the 1950s. At that time, Ernest Roux acquired Château Lagüe and laid the foundation for the family business. His grandson, Arnaud Roux-Oulié, learned the work in the vineyard from him at an early age. In the meantime, Arnaud's mother, Françoise Roux, managed the estate.
At the age of 20, Arnaud took over the business and bought two hectares to build his own estate: Château Carlmagnus. The name commemorates Charlemagne, who stayed in the region and had a fortress built. The wine was created in 1998 and is now one of the well-known names in the Fronsac appellation. In 2011, Arnaud bought another estate in the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation called Francs Magnus, which has belonged to the Roux-Oulié family ever since.
Limestone plateau, manual labor and a signature on the label
Arnaud Roux-Oulié is a two-time French fencing champion and a painter. Both passions shape his winery. Since the 2018 vintage, he has designed the labels for Carlmagnus himself every year.
The vines of Francs Magnus stand on a limestone plateau with a thin layer of clay. The limestone gives the wines minerality and elegance. With the 2020 vintage, Arnaud vinified wines from organic farming for the first time for Carlmagnus and Francs Magnus.
In the cellar, the focus is on gentle work. The grapes are carefully sorted and not trodden by foot so that the fruit remains fresh. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel and concrete tanks with pumping over and délestage. The aging takes place 70% in tanks and 30% in barriques that have only been used once. Since the 2019 vintage, the estate has been working with oenologist Stéphane Derenoncourt and his team.
Merlot with Cabernet Franc: the Francs Magnus in the glass
The Bordeaux Supérieur consists mainly of Merlot, supplemented by Cabernet Franc. Depending on the vintage, the ratio is about 90 to 10 or 95 to 5. The wine shows a deep color and aromas of black fruits such as blackberry and blueberry. The tannins are ripe. In the finish, spices and a minty freshness are added.
The style is close to the wines of Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, which are produced just a few kilometers away. At the table, it goes well with beef goulash, grilled burgers, mature cheese or a chocolate dessert. The estate also announces further new wines. If you want to get to know Arnaud's wines, it is best to start with this Bordeaux Supérieur.
