La Mondotte BP34, 33330 Saint-Émilion, France

La Mondotte’s 4.5 hectares of vines grow on the clay-limestone plateau east of Saint-Emilion. This small gem of a vineyard has all the natural attributes of a Premier Grand Cru Class. The terroir consists of very silty clay overlaying a rocky subsoil. This shallow meagre soil induces excellent water regulation and is propitious to deep rooting. Fine natural drainage combined with outstanding sunshine make for early and complete ripening. The grapes, especially Merlot that takes up 75% of the vineyard, are picked under ideal conditions every year. The quality of the wines rapidly increased as soon as the owner, Stephan von Neipperg, started to spend more time at La Mondotte. As a result of uncompromising and arduous effort, in 2012, La Mondotte became one of only two wines that earned Premier Grand Cru Class status after having been a previously unclassified. The vineyard consists of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, and the average age of the vines is 60 years old. All the grapes are harvest by hand into small crates to avoid bruising, and the winery has been certified organic since 2014. After the harvest, grape juice is fermented in temperature controlled wooden vats for 28 to 35 days depending on the vintage. The wines undergo malolactic fermentation in 100% new oak barrels on fine lees. Fining and filtering is necessary. The average duration of barrel aging is 18 months.