Château Gloria: Vineyards
Château Gloria is located in Beychevelle, overlooking the D2, just set back from the road on the left-hand side, not quite opposite the aforementioned giant wine bottle (which obviously no self-respecting wine village should be without). The vineyard has grown a little in size since Henri Martin’s early efforts, having now crept up to 50 hectares. The vines are divided into three broad zones, with some parcels in the confines of Beychevelle, a second collection of parcels to the west, and a third to the north near the border with Pauillac. The vines that surround the château and winemaking facilities, some of which are pictured in my images, belong to Château Branaire-Ducru, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou and of course Château Saint-Pierre.
The soil underfoot is typically gravelly with a subsoil of clay and sand. The gravel is often said to be Günzian, although much of what is described as such was often laid down later, during the Riss or Würm interglacial eras. The vines are aged about 40 years on average, with Cabernet Sauvignon dominating at 65% of the vineyard, with 25% Merlot and 5% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
