| Magdelaine 2006 • July 2007 | MAGDELAINE
1er Grand Cru Classé
2006 Vintage
Location:
The limestone terrace and the south facing slope of Saint Emilion.
Vineyard size:
10.80 hectares (26.67 acres)
Density of plantation:
7 000 to 9 000 vines per hectare
Grape varieties:
- 95% Merlot
- 5% Cabernet Franc
Average age of the vines:
35 years
Yield in 2006:
40.00 hectoliters per hectare (total 1st and 2nd wine)
Vineyard management:
- Four passes with the plow annually
- Environmentally-friendly spray treatments
- Crop thinning
Growing season:
A brisk and dry winter luckily saw some rain in February and March. April was exceptionally dry.
Budbreak on April 4, 2006.
50% bloom on May 30, 2006: the early flowering was rapid despite some temperature variations in a dominantly warm May.
Summer began unusually hot (July was the warmest since Bordeaux began keeping records with an average high of 31°2 celsius), allowing for a perfect ripeness of the fruit.
August was cool and humid, maintaining alcoholic degrees at a reasonable level.
Veraison on August 5, 2006: the colour change occurred quickly. Cabernets Francs were late.
The first fortnight of September was extremely hot and sunny, allowing the fruit to gain back its concentration, unfortunately followed by some showers mid-month. Overall, along with 1961, it was the warmest September in the last 60 years.
Harvest:
Château Magdelaine is entirely hand harvested into bins directly emptied onto sorting tables, minimizing over-handling of the grapes.
Start of the harvest: September 21, 2006
End of the harvest: September 25, 2006
Vinification:
Both concrete and smaller stainless steel tanks are used, which allow fermentation parcel by parcel.
3 days of cold maceration for a gentle extraction of the ripe tannins, the skin contact lasted an average of 21 days.
The malolactic fermentation was fast and easy, finishing by the end of November 2006.
Aging:
As for vinification, the aging is done block by block. It started in early December 2006, using 40% new oak.
Blending:
Completed early March 2007.
Second wine:
« Les Songes de Magdelaine ».
Contact:
Château Magdelaine – Ets. Jean –Pierre Moueix
54, quai du Priourat – BP 129 – 33502 Libourne cedex
Tel : +33 (0) 557 517 896 – Fax : +33 (0) 557 517 979
E-mail : info@jpmoueix.com | |
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