Château Guadet Plaisance: Vineyards
The vineyards of Château Guadet Plaisance sit at the side of the D244, which runs roughly east out of Libourne, about 2 or 3 kilometres distant from the town. Although here we are some way to the north of the town of St Emilion itself, the vineyards lie very close to the border with the St Emilion appellation. Only the Barbanne, the little stream which runs between the two appellations, separates the vineyards of Guadet Plaisance and of all Montagne-St-Emilion from those in the Corbin sector of St Emilion, such as Grand-Corbin-Despagne.
The vineyards amount to approximately 10 hectares and the soils are, as we might expect in this part of the world, a mix of sandy clay and limestone. Half of the vineyard is committed to Merlot, these being the younger vines on average, with 30% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, these vines tending to be slightly older. The average age overall is about 30 years, and the planting density 5000 vines per hectare. Pierre’s philosophy in the vineyard is organic, with some picking and choosing of biodynamic methods as he sees fit. Thus the vineyards have been organic for three years, since Pierre’s acquisition of the domaine, and he uses a number of biodynamic preparations including 500 and 501, as well as treating his vines with plant and mineral infusions. Nevertheless he has no plans to convert to this philosophy entirely – he has no interest in using the biodynamic calendar, for example – and thus he will remain officially organic rather than biodynamic.
