ur vineyard is planted with one variety of grapes : the white-juiced black Gamay (see below) and our

Château has the Juliénas appellation. The wine is growing on a schist and granite soil with seams of clay on the 35 ha (90 acres) estate (see right).

© Richard Bonin

ur vines are 42 years old on average. With 10,000 vine stocks per hectare the yield is 58 hectolitres per ha.

According to local regulations the vines are pruned "en gobelet" (see below).

e have always picked up the grapes by hand so as to preserve the quality of the berries.

lThe vines face south-east and south-west and the benefit from a long periods of sunshine. This good exposure helps increase the sugar content wich will reach an alcohol level of 13 percent per volume once the fermentation is completed.

he wine is produced traditionally in thermoregulation stainless-steel vats. The harvest is heated in order to

increase the concentration. Then the wine goes into vats lined with enamel or wooden casks in order to mature for 7 months before bottling.

he wine has been bottled at the Château for 30 years. Every year 55,000 bottles leave the property

for the cellars of customers or restaurants where they can be laid down for 3 to 5 years to reach maturity.

© Richard Bonin