Château du Domaine de L’Église: Vineyards
The domaine is located on the celebrated Pomerol plateau, as I have already indicated in my introduction. Near neighbours include the aforementioned Château L’Église-Clinet and Clos L’Église, to the west of the château. To the north, on the other side of the Route de Saint-Jacques de Compostelle, lie Château Rouget, Château La Croix de Gay, Château La Fleur de Gay and Château Le Gay. All are properties either of good repute, or in the ascendant.
The vineyard is not huge at less than 7 hectares, divided into three parcels that sit next to and partially surround the cemetery. The soils underfoot are typical of the Pomerol plateau just here, there being plenty of gravel mixed with a rich, heavy clay. The soils are quite homogenous across the vineyard. The vines are mostly Merlot, this variety accounting for 95% of the vineyard, the remaining 5% being Cabernet Franc, this latter variety planted in a section of the southern-most of the three plots. In terms of age, the vineyard is over 50 years old on average, with many vines a similar age, a consequence of the extensive programme of replanting following the 1956 frost.
In terms of viticulture, this is fairly standard to the best of my knowledge, with no leaning towards an organic or biodynamic philosophy. The vines are enherbées, as shown below, the rows interplanted with sown grass. This would suggest that there is no or at the very least restricted herbicide use.
