| Soils
The geological maps of our vines and the historical maps of the Médoc dating from the end of the 17th century (Anonymous) and the 18th century (Belleyme 1785), provide evidence of the excellence of the soils of Lamarque .
The soils are characterised by the predominance of layers of gravel of the Riss I and Mindel III types (geological formations of the quaternary era)
The essential process in geological terms was the destruction of the terraces by erosion. It is this erosion process that explains the presence of gravel "ridges" on our three plots of vines: La
Curade, Bahura, Maucaillou .
This uneven terrain plays an essential role in the drainage of rainwater.
Vine Varieties
The vine varieties are disributed in the traditional way to ensure the soils, varieties and rootstock are ideally matched. This combination of soil-variety-rootstock is of the utmost importance.
• Cabernet-Sauvignon: firm wines with lots of structure, brilliant colour and delicate ageing capacities.
Cabernet-Franc: produces wines that are lighter in colour, but intense with a rich bouquet.
• Merlot: less suited for ageing, but gives roundness and flesh to the structure and lots of aromas.
• Petit-Verdot: ripens later but contributes body, colour and rich tannins.
The proportions of the vine varieties on the estate, however, are not necessarily reproduced in the final blend of the wine for each vintage.
For example, Merlot vines represent 42% of the vineyard, but no more than 25 to 30% in the blend of our main wine: Château de Lamarque. The proportion, however, is greater in our second wine: D de Lamarque, where it is blended with grapes from younger Cabernet vines.
Plots
Our three stretches of vines are divided into numbered plots for each of which we know the complete history (vine variety, year planted, rootstock, techniques applied, yields, selection in the blend of the different vintages etc.. )
Vinegrowing Techniques
(in preparation)
Yields and Ripeness
(in preparation)
Harvesting
(in preparation)
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