Our terroir

The schist

Located in the heart of the Faugères appellation, within the village of Faugères itself, our vineyard extends between 200 and 300 metres above sea level.

Our vines are rooted in a complex schist bedrock that we observe daily through the texture, hardness and appearance of the soils. We mainly distinguish quartzitic, chloritic and carbonaceous schists, found in varying proportions from one parcel to another.

Depending on their nature, these schists respond differently to water availability, heat and the climatic conditions of each vintage. Combined with altitude and exposure, they contribute to the diversity of our vineyard and to the expression of our wines over time.

The climat

Our vineyard is shaped by a Mediterranean climate characterised by hot, dry summers, abundant sunshine and, at times, intense rainfall depending on the season.

Thanks to their deep root systems, our old vines adapt to these contrasting conditions and are able to complete their growing cycle through to full ripeness.

Altitude, exposure, the influence of the northern winds and the temperature variation between warm days and cooler nights all play a role in grape maturation and contribute to the balance and character of each vintage.

The parcels

Our vineyard is made up of more than twenty parcels spread across the hillsides of Faugères. The diversity of schist soils, exposures, elevations and vine age contributes to the distinct character of each site.

Harvesting is carried out grape variety by grape variety, once each has reached the level of ripeness we are seeking, respecting the natural rhythm of Carignan, Mourvèdre and the other varieties grown on the estate.

Some vineyards are vinified separately in order to preserve their individual character. This is notably the case for our Carignan des Plots, as well as the Collection wines: N°1, N°3 and N°4 from the Rec de Sade vineyard site, and N°2 from Les Croses.