In the vineyard
The vineyards cover 18.7 hectares on the plateau of Pomerol, not surprisingly situated inbetween Château Lafleur and Pétrus.
The property took its name in the eighteenth century and consists of three separate parcels situated between 33 and 38 metres above sea level. The estate identifies how each plot brings quite distinct profiles to the final blend with the northern plot bringing elegance. The middle plot, nicknamed “Tropchaud” bearing the full intensity of the sun brings suppleness whilst the southern plot brings a velvety texture to the wine, as well as density and structure.
The vineyards are planted to 91% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.
Over the last 20 years Christian Moueix has been implementing distinct structural changes on the plateau of Pomerol to improve certain parts of the vineyards. Obsessed with the drainage of a vineyard, which he believes represents a site of quality, Christian has since installed seven individual six metre deep wells underneath the plateau to improve drainage in less favourable parts of the site.
The estate carries out deep inter-row ploughing four to six times a year as well as summer crop thinning to improve concentration of the grapes whilst pushing ripeness earlier and enabling them to pick earlier in the season.
In the winery
Vinification is carried out using small concrete and stainless-steel tanks whilst maturation of the wine is carried out in wooden barrels. At Château La Fleur-Pétrus they use a maximum of 40% new oak barrels in the élevage process.