Terroir

Concentrated potential

A geological base of gneiss (volcanic rock), rock from the Maures mountain range and a few layers of alluvium…

Often sandy, the earth at Château des Launes sometimes contains big blocks of sandstone, with pebbles in some of the alluvium areas as well as clay.

The riding school, the gates, the ravine, the farmhouse

Quite sandy (due to the erosion of sandstone) and with a certain amount of schist… this soil tends to thin out. To maintain the biological life within, we air it regularly – reactivating the organic material by adding compost. These gentle methods limit erosion.

Light, fresh, delicately aromatic

• The Riding School: Grape variety: Rolle
  These old, mature vines produce a concentrated wine of consistent acidity.
• The Gates: Grape variety: Cinsault
  This is the base of the estate’s elegant rosé.
• The Ravine: Grape variety: Cabernet
  This ancient plot brings a tannin-rich structure to wines for ageing and brings the aroma of small red berries to our entry-range wines.
• The Farmhouse:
  These young vines grow on modern alluviums and bring a freshness and aromatic liveliness to our rosés.

The hillside

Here, the soil has a light and fragile texture. The edge of large sandstone blocks can be seen in several places. Continuous care is required on these plots to fight against erosion (we channel the water-flow, grow grass to facilitate water penetration and alternately add lime and organic compost to maintain the biological structure of the soil…).

Grape maturity: a concentration of tastes

The grapes produced here have excellent qualities. Water absorption is regulated naturally thanks to good drainage, which is ideal for old vines with deep roots…

• The old Syrah grape vine on the hillside is the power-base for our reds.
• The Grenache gives grapes that ripen particularly well and their aromatic complexity is fully expressed in our rosés.
• The Cinsault variety brings finesse and lightness to our roses – perfect ripeness is the source of wines that are both elegant and concentrated.

The fence, the pines

On a sub-layer of Maures mountain rock, these flatter plots share similar characteristics. Less erosion, natural drainage…the soil is average in depth with an acidic tendency, rich in sandstone and gneiss. Planted exclusively with old vines, these plots produce very small harvests of particularly high quality.

Fresh, Elegant and Powerful

• The Cinsault vines on the fence are still partially grown in goblets. Their limited strength means the plot requires regular care and the grapes need maximum sunshine. The small production on these parcels of land allows us to build an elegant and complex base for our rosés.
• The White Ugni, old with limited production, gives wine with linear aromas and a long mouth. These grapes bring depth and freshness to the power of Vermentino.
• The Grenache vines of the pine tree area produce limited quantities of grapes too, but with very intense aromas. Often very ripe, they give body to all our rosés.

The bend, the post, the gite, the large plot

In these areas, the slope is less and less pronounced and the alluvium deposits are not as strong. While the circulation of water underground is slower, there is actually more here than elsewhere else - as the wells on the estate show. Ditches, drainage, soil-work…the production is regular, the aromas are more airy and the structure of the grapes is more delicate.

Full-bodied and well-rounded

• The Cinsault vines of the bend give room to modern alluviums and benefit from naturally regulated hydro-feeding. The soil, which is not naturally rich, allows us to make the most of vines with very moderate strength.
• The Syrah vines of the large plot are planted on an alluvial soil which can be suffocating. We work the soil in respect of its delicate structure to avoid losing its nutritional elements. When ripe, the grapes from this plot help us to create red wines with a perfectly mastered and particularly fruity structure.
• The Cinsault vines by the gite, the smallest plot on the estate, are worked using ancient techniques. There are still a few fruit trees in the middle of the rows. The soil here is richer in alluviums than the rest of the estate and gives wines that are light, fruity and particularly airy.