TECHNICAL FACT SHEET

GEOGRAPHIC SITUATION: alongside the Gironde river in the commune of Saint-Seurin de Cadourne
next door to the Saint-Estèphe appellation area
DATE WHEN THE VINEYARD WAS FIRST PLANTED: 17th century. The estate was bought in 1982
and has been renovated since.
VINEYARD AREA: 27.50 hectares (68 acres) in one single plot
TOPOGRAPHY: hilly
SOIL TYPES: gravelly clay
GRAPE VARIETIES: 48% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
PLANTING DENSITY: from 6,700 to 8,700 vines per hectare
AGE OF THE VINES: 30 years on average
ROOTSTOCKS: Riparia, 101-14, 3309, 420 A
MANURE: only organic
VINE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES: traditional with tilling of the soil
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES: systematic leaf and green fruit removal
Château Charmail was the first to carry out leaf removal
YEARLY PRODUCTION: 9,000 to 10,000 cases of main wine (about 80% of total production)
The rest is sold as Tours de Charmail.
HARVESTING: manual in all parts of the vineyard. A precursor in green harvesting
VATTING: the harvest is steeped for 15 days at 5°C, using  dry ice; fermentation for 7 days;
about 10 days of final maceration
ALCOHOLIC FERMENTATION: from 25 to 30°C with temperature regulation
AGEING: 1 year in barrels, one third of which are renewed each year
FINING: no
FILTRATION: no
BOTTLING: carried out with our own equipment in Spring