Château Haut-Canteloup
Château Haut-Canteloup is located in the northern Médoc, near the small town of St-Christoly-Médoc. It is in good company here, near neighbours including Château Potensac to the south and Château La Tour de By to the north. There are 38 hectares of vineyards in all, in two separate plots.
In the commune of St-Christoly-Médoc itself there are 26 hectares of vineyards planted on well drained gravel, and just a little further southwest there are a further 12 hectares in the commune of Couquèques. Here the vines sit on a clay and limestone soil. The vines are planted at a density of 6250 vines/ha, with an average age of 40 years. It is a Merlot dominated blend, with this variety occupying 60% of the vignoble, the remainder being 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Harvesting is mechanical rather than manual, fermentation temperature controlled.
Château Haut-Canteloup turns out typically 23000 cases per annum. The grand vin – if by that we mean the standard cuvée by which the estate shall be judged – is Château Haut-Canteloup, which sees twelve months in oak and has an annual production of 96,000 bottles, or thereabouts.
