Palate
The ‘reserve’ of Château Croix Mouton is accessible, round and fruit-driven. Produced in the Bordeaux Supérieur appellation, it responds to stringent expectations with freshness and a sense of origin.
Growing Conditions
Vineyard :
Surface : 70 Ha : 95% Merlot / 4.5 % Cabernet Franc / 0.5% Petit Verdot. Density of plantation : 3600 to 6000 plants/ha.
Average age of the vineyard : 39.
Soil is clayey and alluvial.
Cultural methods : Ploughing of the soil, controlled deliberate grass growth. One cluster thinning at the beginning of veraison. Merlots leaves were thinned out at rising sun side and Cabernet Franc once on both sides.
Harvest
From September 18th to 28th, 2018 for Merlot, October 8th, 2018 for Cabernet Franc.
Bottling
No fining. Tangential filtration (new technology) at the bottling.
June 17th to 24th, 2019.
Winemaking
Sorting of the crop. Filling of the vats by gravity without crushing.
Vinification in concrete and stainless steel vats widely open at 140 cm for pigeages.
Punching of the caps 6 times a day until 1070 of density, twice a day until 1030, once a day until 1010 then 1 pumping over a day till the end of the alcoholic fermentation and maceration. Temperature during alcoholic fermentations : 26 /28° C maxi.
Vatting period : 22 to 29 days for Merlot, 19 for Cabernet.
Aging
Maturing on lees during 3-4 months.
