Médoc
Appellation
Médoc
Farming
Sustainable, Organic
Varietals
47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Vineyards & Viticulture
Grapes grown in Saint-Christoly de Médoc & Couquèques with a planting density of 9,000 to 10,000 vines/ha. Average of 45 years old. Soil is worked by plow and the rows have grass in the middle. Only organic amendments and reasoned phytosanitary treatments. No copper is used.
Soils
29% clay-gravelly, 28% limestone of Couquèques, 25% sand, 13% clay-sand, 5% gravel-sand
Harvest & Vinification
Hand harvest September 23 to October 14. About 1 kg of grapes per vine (6-8 bunches/vine), with a yield of approx. 55 hl /ha. Grapes sorted twice, before and after destemming, on vibrating sorting table and vatting by peristaltic pump (the temperature of each tank is then reduced to 10° for 48 to 72 hours) Traditional vinification by pumping over for concrete vat and punch down for wood and concrete vat (in part). Pressing with vertical press. Malolactic fermentation in barrels and vats. Aged on fine lees in new and one-year-old French oak for 17 months (Cabernet Sauvignon), 25% in 7-hectoliter concrete eggs for 12 months (Merlot and Cabernet Franc) and 5% in eight-hectolitre amphorae for six months (Petit Verdot). No fining. No SO2 until CO2 starts to dissipate about three months after malolactic fermentation, then another small dose at bottling.