Geographical situation
Our region is at the crossroads of oceanic, Mediterranean and Pyrenean influences, and offers beautiful scenaries, especially in autumn.
The soil of the slopes of the Lèze Valley is predominantly clay-limestone, stony, with the presence of boulbenes for some plots. Located between 200 and 300 meters above sea level, our plots benefit from generous sunshine and night freshness.
Our environment is the guarantor of the quality of our wines. That is why we are constantly looking to accompany it, to increase the resilience of our vines regarding to spring humidity and summer heat.
Most of the vines are planted in a north-south orientation to guarantee maximum sunshine. Keeping in mind the ongoing climatic changes, new plots have been planted on the north face of the hillsides, where the rows of vines are accompanied by alignments of trees to promote shading, water retention and biodiversity.
These different terroirs allow the expression of our 14 grape varieties.
Locality of Taberly
Located in the heart of the Eaunes forest, the place called Taberly has been home to an exceptional plot of 6 hectares of vines for almost 40 years. The naturally grassed clay-loam soils allow a deep penetration of the roots, where they can seek nutrients necessary to produce fresh and powerful wines.
Located between 200 and 260 meters above sea level, the Taberly vines are planted in North-South or East-West alignment. The first Pinot Noirs and Aligotés from the South-West were planted there in 1987. Taberly also hosts Chenin and Syrah grapes.
Locality of Cabirol
The first vineyard on the way up from the Lèze valley is the locality of Cabirol. Too poor to be used for crop farming, these soils traditionally called “boulbènes” formerly hosted mainly vines. Composed on the surface of silts and pebbles, boulbenes are often hydromorphic and therefore waterlogged in spring.
The quality of the wines produced on this terroir led us to carry out new plantations of Syrah, Chenin and Albariño in 2021. The latter integrate several rows of trees in between the rows of vines, in the hope of reducing water stress during wet periods and creating shade in summer.
Locality of Ribonnet
Our Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon vines are planted below the castle itself.
Facing south, the vines benefit from plenty of sunshine and deep soils. The limestone contained in the soil bestows the wines the essential acidity to preserve freshness.
Locality Pariac
In front of the viewing table showing the Pyrenees, the locality of Pariac is the highest of the entire vineyard (300 m).
The soil of Pariac is poor and exposed to the relentless wind called "vent d'Autan", hence confirming the old winemaker's saying that vines must suffer to produce good wine. The soil is composed of boulbène and grep, a few centimeter thick layer formed by iron oxides, that prevents water from circulating through the soil. Only the most resilient vines can grow here, therefore, the quality of the grapes and the concentration of the wines are increased.
It is no surprise that this plot gives wines with intense and complex aromas: the ripe fruits, licorice and menthol aromas in Marselan and the aromas of honeysuckle and linden in our atypical Viognier.
