Château Preuillac: Vineyards
The vineyards are located east of Lesparre-Médoc, sitting either side of the D203, and are entitled to the Médoc appellation. the estate is spread over approximately 42 hectares all told, of which 26 hectares are dedicated to viticulture. The remaining 16 hectares is accounted for by the château, with accompanying gardens in front and behind, as well as ponds and winery buildings.
About half of the vineyard has clay-limestone and gravel soils, one quarter gravel, and one quarter sandy-gravel. The better soils tend to lie on the north side of the road; the soils here have a slightly higher elevation and are drained slightly better than those on the opposite side. The varieties planted are dominated only slightly by Merlot, which accounts for 14.3 hectares and sits in three blocks. Two of these, including the largest, sit on the south side of the road on the lower, more moisture-retentive soil, whereas the third sits in the far corner of the vineyards on the north side. Cabernet Sauvignon is next, this variety accounting for 10 hectares, most of the vines sitting in a long sweep on the north side of the road behind the château, the rest sitting on the south between the two blocks of Merlot. At one end of the north-side vines sits the 1.3 hectares of Cabernet Franc, whereas at the other there sits 0.2 hectares of Petit Verdot. This latter variety was planted very recently, in 2012.
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