| Chateau Cap de Merle is located in the appellation of Lussac-St-Emilion, one of the satellite regions of St-Emilion, where wines of exceptional value are to be found. Cap de Merle has been owned and managed by the Bel family for generations and today the wine is carefully made by brothers Alain and Jean-Marie. The vineyard of 17 hectares is superbly located on a hill-top plateau which is reached by traveling on the scenic road through Pomerol. The vineyard's location on high ground and its south-southwest exposure ensures optimal ripening. The Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes - the principal varieties of St-Emilion and Pomerol - thrive in the iron-rich (ferruginous) sandstone soil at Cap de Merle, the same soil-type which is found at many of the famous chateaux of these two regions and which gives these wines their unique character. |
| Chateau Cap de Merle Website |
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| Lussac St Emilion |
| 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc. Location: In the commune of Lussac St-Emilion, 5 miles north-east of the town of St-Emilion. Climate: Atlantic climate – humid in winter and warm and dry in Spring and Summer. Soil: the vineyard is a plateau on a silt and sand soil. The subsoil has traces of iron-oxide, mixed with clay. Altitude: 30 meters. Average age of vines: 25 years. Vineyard size: 15 hectares Density of plantation: 6000 vines per hectare. Pruning: simple Guyot. Yield: 55 hectoliters per hectares. Vineyard practice: “lutte-raisonnee” for over 20 years. Average harvest dates: 25 September for the Merlot and 8 October for the Cabernet. Yeasts: only indigenous, to preserve typicity of the wine Maceration period: 15 to 20 days, depending on the harvest. Maturation: stainless steel tanks for 18 months. Assemblage: After 15 months, in the second January following harvest. The winery’s excellent plateau vineyard on sandstone soil assures optimal ripeness of fruit and supple tannins. The Merlot and Cabernet are vinified separately, and are assembled 15 months later. The result is a fabulously ripe yet fresh and balanced wine that is already drinking well. |
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