An exceptional terroir

Bringing out the best qualities of an exceptional terroir

The Fonroque estate stretches its 20 hectares over several hundred metres to the north-west of the village of Saint-Emilion.  The vineyard covers 17.6 hectares in a single piece of land that spreads across a plateau and a west-facing hillside.  

Neighbouring estates are principally classified growths: Château Laniote to the West, Château Cap de Mourlin to the North, Château Moulin du Cadet and Cadet Piolat to the East, Château Clos Fourtet on the Southern slope.

When taking over the management of the estate in 2001, a full audit of the vineyard was carried out: any resolute aim for improving quality initially involves good knowledge of terroirs.

47 pits in the vineyard were analysed; this research provided details about each of the plots and enabled the implementation of a real strategy for improving and highlighting the potential of the vineyard.

In the Fonroque vineyard, we find this type of lay out:

• The plateau: relatively shallow soils with the presence of a slab of limestone close to the surface
• The hillside: a majority of clay-limestone soils
• The foot of the hillside: limestone is less present
  

Fonroque therefore has the three main types of soil shared by the most acclaimed estates in this appellation.

An excellent terroir is typified by a controlled hydrous system.  It is important that water cannot be soaked up easily by the vine, which nevertheless must be able, thanks to its roots, to find some and therefore avoid any periods when ripening might come to a halt.  

Since the majority of plots in the Fonroque vineyard are on slopes, they have the advantage of natural drainage.  Drainage work elsewhere has been done when necessary.

If we add to this the presence of limestone in the majority of soils, which provides the wines of Fonroque with freshness, length on the palate and stylishness absolutely characteristic of Saint-Emilion fine wines, we can truly say it is a first-class terroir.

More precisely, the presence of limestone and/or clay means that laying-down wines full of character can be made: clay provides strength and density, limestone and minerality.
Incorporating adapted compost into the soil also encourages life below the surface, without generating robustness for the vine.  Biodynamic preparations are added onto these composts.  

Fonroque has vine growing soils of excellent quality, whose vocation for wine production goes far back in history.  Organic and biodynamic growing methods ensure better balanced and more vibrant soils which naturally maintain good structure and put an end to problems of them becoming packed down.