Domaine Rousset-Peyraguey: Vineyards
As I have indicated in my introduction to this profile, Domaine Rousset-Peyraguey sits at the foot of the Château d’Yquem vineyard. Close neighbours thereby include Château Raymond Lafon, and beyond that Château Rabaud-Promis, Château Sigalas-Rabaud and Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey. Much closer, a short walk across the vines to the north, is Château Suduiraut. There are 10.3 hectares of vines all told. The bulk of the domaine, 6.3 hectares, is situated around the cellars in Preignac, rubbing shoulders with the aforementioned cru classé estates. Alain also has some more distant parcels though, namely 2 hectares of vines in Fargues de Langon, and 2 hectares in Barsac.
The soils are predominantly gravel and sand, the type that of course dominates the Sauternes, Barsac and Pessac-Léognan appellations. The Sauternes vineyards in Preignac and Fargues de Langon rest on subsoils of cobalt-rich blue clay, below which there is limestone, quite deep, while the soils in Barsac are a silty clay, again over limestone, more superficial here. While many practices on the domaine may be unorthodox, the varieties planted certainly aren’t, these being 80% Semillon, 15% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle. Perhaps the only unusual feature is the persistence of the latter of these three varieties, as many domaines have given up on this more fragile variety in favour of just Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc. The vines are aged over 50 years on average, and when individual pieds are replaced this is effected by massale sélection.
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