Ch. La Garricq, Moulis

Once known as Château de Graves de Guitignan Brillette, this Moulis estate is planted on an excellent Haut-Mèdoc soil of Garonne gravel and a clayey marnish layer covering a stone substrata. As well as provide good drainage for the Cabernet Sauvignon, the large shiny pebbles covering the vineyard are able to reflect the suns rays onto the grapes, helping to ripen them. The clay constituant of the soil is very good for the Merlot vines' roots which prefer a colder, wetter soil.

As well as 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, the vineyards here are planted with an unusually high percentage (20%) of the fashionable Petit Verdot which adds structure and colour to the wine.

After careful hand-picking, the grapes go through a severe sorting process, so that only the best grapes go into the wine. The bunches are totally destemmed and the wine is fermented at 29-31°C and macerated for 3 weeks.

The wine is aged for 12-15 months in French oak barriques, 30% of which are new each vintage.