Château Rauzan-Gassies: Vineyards
Château Rauzan-Gassies sits directly adjacent to Château Rauzan-Ségla on the outskirts of the village of Margaux. The original château went with Château Rauzan-Ségla, and so what sits here at Château Rauzan-Gassies is really a broad collection of winery buildings comprising a cuverie and various cellars. The vineyards are obviously contiguous with those of Château Rauzan-Ségla, while close neighbours include Château Marquis de Terme (once part of the same estate of course) literally just around the corner to the north, Château Palmer just across the road to the east, and beyond that Château Margaux of course.
The vineyards of Château Rauzan-Gassies are thus dotted around Margaux and Cantenac, on typically gravelly soils although in one or two areas sand is more prominent. There are 28.5 hectares in total, which are planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The vines have an average age of 35 years, and are planted at a density of 10,000 pieds per hectare. The work that takes place in the vineyard throughout the growing season is fairly standard, although where practices may differ from those at many other classed growth estates is in the use of machines. Leaf removal in the summer is part manual, part by machine, and the machines are also used for harvesting.
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