Terroir: Terroir 4.5 Ha (11 acres) in the communes of St Sulpice de Faleyrens and St Laurent des Combes. Sandy gravel, deep gravels, cool ferriferous sub-soil.

Vines: Average age 38 to 45 years, planting density 5500 plants/Ha. Vineyards grassed and drained.

Viticulture: Deleafing and green harvesting in June and August, manual removal of spurs, soil improvement using organic materials exclusively. Manual harvesting with rigorous selection on tables.

Average Yield: 35 Hl/Ha

Vinification: Fermentation in thermostatically controlled stainless steel vats, cold maceration at 6° for 8-10 days before fermentation, long (>30 days) vat fermentation, délestage (the juice is removed and poured back over the cap to moisten and break it up) and pigeage (the cap is forced into the juice), malolactic fermentation in new barrels. Aging on lees. Aging in 100% new barrels for 16 months.

Tasting notes:

Robert Parker: « A wine of huge intensity, purity, richness, balance, and texture... »
91-93/100 (2005 vintage) - 91/100 (2003 vintage)

RVF Guide - The best French wines: "Very promising, intense fruit : 16/20" (2005 vintage)

Guide Hachette: Specially Selected (2004 vintage)
Specially selected 6 times since 1995, mentioned 12 times.

Paris Competition: 4 Gold medals and 3 Silvers since 1995.

Saint-Emilion Grand Crus cup: semi finalist (Sept. 2001)

Click on the bottle to see a close up of the label

Denis Barraud Chateau Les Gravieres 33330 St-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens Tel. +33 (0)55 784 5473 Fax +33 (0)55 784 5207

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