Château de France: Vineyards
Château de France sits in a pocket of vines surrounded by a cup of woodland, just to the south of Léognan. Within this pocket there is also one of the Pessac-Léognan classified crus, Château de Fieuzal, which sits between Château de France and the D651, which runs south here from Léognan down to Saucats, as well as Château Le Sartre. Just to the west, behind the trees and the houses of Mignoy and Les Bouges, is Domaine de Chevalier. To the east, beyond other trees and houses, is Domaine de la Solitude. Northwards, close to the outskirts of Léognan, is another classified cru, Château Malartic-Lagravière.
The vineyards account for 44 hectares of the appellation, currently all planted up and in production. There are 40 hectares of red varieties planted, of which 50% are Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% are Merlot, with an average age of 32 years. The white varieties, only established again in the last few decades, account for just 4 hectares of vines, of which 80% are Sauvignon Blanc and 20% are Semillon, with an average age of 20 years. The vines, originally planted at 5,000 vines per hectare, have been replanted across much of the domaine at an increased density, more like 6,950 vines per hectare. The rootstocks are a mix of well-known and less-commonly encountered types, including 3309C, 101.14, 110R and GRAVEZAC. Underfoot, the soils are the typical gravel of the region, these being some of the highest parcels in Léognan. There is some deeper limestone and clay in parts, and some elements of sand here and there as well.
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