Château Sansonnet: Vineyards
Château Sansonnet can be found directly to the east of the town of St Emilion, just across the road from Château Trotte Vieille, which has for many years been ranked as premier grand cru classé. The vineyards are thus sandwiched between those of Château La Couspaude (the location of the tower visible across the vines, pictured) to the west, Château Haut-Sarpe and Château Clos de Sarpe to the east, and Château Trotte Vieille to the south. The estate occupies a quite commanding position within the appellation, on one of the highest points of the plateau.
Today (and for a long time, the vineyard having changed little over the years) the vines account for 7 hectares of the St Emilion appellation, all gathered together in a single plot around the château, and planted at a density of 6,000 vines per hectare. The varieties planted today are 85% Merlot, the balancing 15% a blend of Cabernet Franc (8% of the total) and Cabernet Sauvignon (accounting for 7%). The latter variety has recently returned to the vineyard, having previously been pulled up . The vines are planted in a thin layer of superficial clay soils, over a deep limestone bed.
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