Château La Marzelle: Vineyards
Château La Marzelle is located to the northwest of the town of St Emilion, set back from the road that runs out to Libourne, hidden from view by the towering edifice that is Château Grand Barrail Lamarzelle Figeac. Both estates sit due south of Château Cheval Blanc and Château Figeac. This places them close to the bed of gravel that runs roughly north-south here, and gravel no doubt plays some part in the soils here. Having inspected the vineyard myself, though, I see a lot of sandy soil here (pictured), especially as you follow the La Marzelle vineyards further westwards.
There are today 17 hectares of vines all told, situated in a single interdigitated parcel running around the château, even and this is true after the purchase of 4 hectares in 2003. The vineyard is currently planted with 80% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. Recent replanting, part of the overall investment and drive to increase quality, has taken the density from 5,600 to 7,150 vines per hectare. In some cases Merlot was replanted like-for-like, but in others it has been replaced by both Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, not an uncommon trend in St Emilion in recent times.
