David FAVARD can be define himself as a farmer, winegrower. He took over the family vineyard in 2012 from his father, Michel. Vines are growing since 1875 in his family when his great-great-grand-father comes form Auvergne country ! This one came in Saint-Emilion at the end of the XIXe century where he was selling tissus. It's him who bought the first part of vines, with passion, without changing his job. In the same spirit, the grand-father of Michel FAVARD expands the vineyard but stay cabinetmaker all his life.
Organic wines since 1875
Château Meylet grounds were always be naturally processed. Since 1875, and more around 1900-1920, dates of the first harvest declarations of David grand-father, today the owner, the vines were treated in the respect of the ground and the wildlife. Cu and sulphur used, called before "la bouillie bordelaise", were the only elements brings to the ground to obtain in 1978 the first wine of Château Meylet.
Demeter & biodynamic wine
80's years will provide a lot of appellations and labels who's gonna get officially the wines of Château Meylet in the organic wines. Michel FAVARD, David's dad, worked the vines in a classical way by using the less corrosives products as possible. The differents organizations who exist at this time weren't enough and not exactly as precise as he wants. He will discover from François Bouchet and a group of market gardners, in 1980, the biodynamic farming. He will use this techniques and will be certified DEMETER only in 2010 for ethical reasons.
The organic, DEMETER Saint-Emilion is officially born !
David as his father, is a great adept of the biodynamic farming. This winegrower love to try, experiment, look and listen to act and develop himself, the vines and the wines. With never forget to respect the nature and hte nectar. His vision about DEMETER culture : "it's a lost culture today, involving a power that you can see, interacted with the nature". A perfect adequation between the natural elements and human's actions.
Old and actual evolution :
At the beginning of 1990, it's the winemaker without sulphur ; and then in 1998 no sulphur at all. Now win making will be in wood frustroconical tanks with a little bit sulphur just when we will put the nectar in the bottle if it's necessary. Everything is done by gravity, without pump.
David FAVARD, after studying wine and vineyards, worked in differents vineyards in Saint-Emilion and Rhône Valley, he has explored a lot of jobs around wines (trade, sale on markets and fairs, restauration). He comes back on the family vineyard from 1998 to 2001, to work with his fatger, and develop his experiences near the Mediterranean sea. In 2012, after this many experiences, he definitly came back and signed in 2015 the definitive contract to be the new Chief of the Domaine.
New departure : "la Cuvée Origine"
Since 2015, David manage the domaine, under the kind regard of his father. A first wine, without sulphur, was created with "Cuvée Origine", departure point of a renewal of the domaine with a new winemaker touch, staying in his father's line.
In 2016, a new team is in, with the participation of Anne CALDERONI, and Mauro CATARINELLA as partners, an orchestra conductor and two musicians !
In 2020, 2 new partitions of music are creating with Julie-Agathe and Sophie.
Are you ready to listen ?