2006
Situation
70 km far from Bordeaux.
Soil
Clay and limestone for Bégadan district and gravels on Laujac district.
The 50 hectares are in average 30 years old.
Blending
Merlot 45 %
Cabernet sauvignon 45 %
Petit verdot 7 %
Cabernet franc 3 %
Average age of the vines
28 years.
Planting density
5 000 et 6 600 plants / ha.
Yield
48 hl / ha.
Wine growing on all vines
Logical double Guyot pruning system.
The natural weed control in the middle of the row to keep control on the vines.
A disbudding to regulate the yield.
Manual thinning of leaves.
The 2006 summer’s weather with a lot of rain falls during the harvesting time made this vintage very nice with a very pleasant balance like new customers like.
Press said that it was winegrower’s vintage.
The grape picking
Mechanical with a very strict manual sorting out.
Winemaking
Traditional in style, with the use of the latest techniques.
Control of temperature, stainless steel and concrete fermenting.
Extraction of fruity aromas with low temperature macerations before fermenting.
Wine is ageing in French and American oak.
It could last 12 months but tasting could decide of that. A batonage is made every 10 days to give sweetness and powerful to the wine.
Production
150 000 bouteilles.
Tasting comments
Stéphane Courrèges (UCVA coutras) :
“ Great deep colour for this wine which presents: Polished aromas of fruits of the forest, notable on first impact then veering towards a spicy flavour; A rich soft tannins concentration which shows us all the potential. An agreeable fruitiness. ”