Decanter
The once famed and greatly respected region of Gaillac has been quietly sleeping since the late 17th century, but just over two decades ago a dream between two men, known affectionately as ‘the pioneer’ and ‘the magician’ sought to bring this region back into the spotlight.
It was among the gently rolling hills along the river Tarn, 80km north of Toulouse in south-west France, that Ferdinand Graf von Thun und Hohenstein decided to begin his dream, buying Château de Frausseilles and its 29 hectares of vines.
Ferdinand, a businessman from Munich who had a passion for connoisseur adventures and fine wines, called upon the talents of the famous Italian oenologist Dr Riccardo ‘Il Mago’ Cotarella to help create wines of an international style but of rare intensity in the region.