Between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde River, the Médoc offers an ideal temperate climate, allowing the grapes to ripen beautifully and guaranteeing balance and finesse in the wines. The gravelly soil of Fontesteau, with its deep limestone base, allows the traditional Médoc grape varieties (particularly the Cabernet Sauvignon) to express their full potential.
Total area under vine: 32 ha
- Average age of the vines: 25 years old
- Grape varieties:
- 58% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 37% Merlot Noir
- 5% Cabernet Franc
- pruning method : Double Guyot to limit yield (6 buds per plant)
- Attaching with three ties per plant
- Trellising: Wires lifted 3 times during growth cycle.
- Trimming: 4 foliage trimmings per year
- Sucker removal : May, June, selection of fruit-bearing shoots.
- De-leafing : sunrise side in July, sunset side in August.
- Thinning out: during colour change, elimination of superfluous or imperfect bunches.
The Fontesteau vineyard has been using integrated agricultural methods for the last 30 years, exploiting the plants’ natural defence system and avoiding where possible the use of synthetic products to protect the vineyard.
