The vineyard

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Established on the best exposed slopes of the estate, the vineyard of Château Pierrail extends to 90 hectares and Château Arnaud's vineyard to 17 hectares.

The techniques of cultivating are based on a search for quality and natural :

- « Lutte raisonnée »,

- Restricted yields,

- Green harvest when necessary,...

- Vineyard certified HIGH ENVIRONMENTAL VALUE

Château Pierrail produces different wines from fresh and aromatic White and Rosé to rich and concentrated wines (Red and white) aged in oak barrels.

The production of Château Arnaud is mainly red wines for the time being.

Pierrail Grapes varieties

White grapes : 15 hectares


 SAUVIGNON BLANC & SAUVIGNON GRIS :

Particularly suited to Pierrail soil, the Sauvignon Blanc provides a great aromatic strength.
The Sauvignon Gris has a slight rose tint. It contributes to a subtil bouquet, and adds roundness to the Sauvignon Blanc. Less powerful than Sauvignon Blanc, the Sauvignon Gris gives complexity and finesse.




SÉMILLON :

Blended with Sauvignon Blanc and Gris, Sémillon brings a nice roundness.



Red grapes: 75 hectares

 MERLOT : 

Merlot is the main grape for Pierrail terroir. It brings body, fullness and suppleness.

  

 

 

CABERNET FRANC : 

The Cabernet Franc adds its fineness and elegance to the Merlot. 

  

 CABERNET SAUVIGNON : 

The Carbernet Sauvignon completes the structure.

 

 

MALBEC :

The Malbec produces a tannic and fruity wine with a dense color.

Un terroir d'exception

Geology-Pedology

During the latest two quaternary ice-ages, the tertiary oligocene formation has been cut out by the Seignal river and its small tributary the Fonchotte. The result of it undercovers a very hard lacustrian calcareous soil : "le calcaire de Castillon".

The Château Pierrail vineyard has been set in the slopes of this rocky valley. Thus it benefits from a shallow soil (rendzine), slightly thicker at the bottom of the slope, with a continuous granulous structure, stony and resting on the draining rock.

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Exposition

The Fonchotte runs along side the vineyard from south-west to north-east. This gives the vines a SOUTH-EAST exposure "which provides the best results as it receives the rays from the early morning sun. Consequently, the air temperature gets higher earlier". (P. Galet)

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