The Estate
Our vineyard is located on the heights of Sainte-Foy-La-Grande, between Saint-Emilion and Bergerac, both on the slopes of the hillside and on the plateau, benefitting from superb exposure.
It covers 32 hectares of vines, woods and meadows. Formerly dedicated to mixed farming (of cereals, orchards and vines) the vineyard currently occupies 20 hectares (with 14 hectares in production), most of which is planted with red wine producing vines.
The square courtyard buildings date back to the 18th century and the unsegmented vineyard surrounds them.
The Vineyard
Since 2003 the planting density is 5,500 vines per hectare.
Grape varieties:
White wine (1 Ha in production)
sauvignon gris : 73%
sauvignon blanc : 27%
Red wine (13 Ha in production)
merlot : 57%
cabernet franc : 19%
cabernet sauvignon : 24%
Since 2011, partial restructuring of the vineyard has been performed, with the choice of seedlings in English graft and mass selection to favour sustainable establishment of the vine and quality production.
The pruning is conducted using the single or mixed Guyot method. All the care lavished on the vines is performed manually. Bud pruning and leaf removal are adapted each year depending on the vintage and on the weather conditions.
The soil is maintained by an alternation of mechanical work under the rows and controlled natural grassing.
The use of green manure (oats, rye, beans, etc.) in winter is regular, thus avoiding soil erosion and fostering airing of the soil.
The application of dynamic preparations (prepared horn manure, silica), plant infusions (using nettles, horsetail, or wicker) and very precise planning of the treatments has made it possible to minimize the doses of copper and sulphur.
The Cellar
Recently renovated and modernized, the traditional concrete vats allow for plot-by-plot vinification. The ageing is also carried out in stainless steel vats, hogsheads (large barrels) and barrels.
The acquisition of a vertical press allows for gentle pressing. It also ensures better sorting of the press wines that are tasted and vinified separately in order to obtain a tailored blend with the wine extracted directly from the vats.