DISCOVER CHANTEGRIVE
FAMILY, GENEROSITY & SIGNATURE
OUR APPELLATION
Chantegrive is situated in the only French appellation to bear the name of the soil which it consists of: the Graves appellation. Graves means gravel or pebbles. These are quartz, silex or jasper minerals rolled down from the Pyrennees by the prehistoric Garonne river. These stones store the heat of the sun during the day and restore it during the night, thus providing the important element of temperature consistency which results in the quality that is typical in the wines of the Graves appellation.
The Graves vineyards are framed to the west by the forests of Les Landes, which protect the vines from oceanic storms, and to the east by the Garonne river, whose humidity prevents drought. Ever since the quaternary period our terroir has been created by the deposits of silt and rocks brought here from the Pyrenees by exceptional flooding of the Garonne river.
These gravelly outcrops, which include pebbles, stones, sand, and clay deposits, are the basis of our soils, which lie on a limestone and clay subsoil.
« At Chantegrive we are working on the revitalisation of our soils and subsoils by means of new biotechnologies. The progress we are making will allow us to reduce our use of fertilizers while maintaining consistently high yields. »
Jérôme Lafont, vineyard manager
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OUR GRAPE VARIETIES
At Chantegrive we cultivate seven iconic grape varieties :
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon for the red varieties
Merlot provides smoothness, a velvety texture, as well as wild fruit and strawberry aromas.
Cabernet Sauvignon contributes a strong structure, refinement, and delicious blackcurrant aromas.
Semillon and Sauvignon blanc for the white varieties
Semillon is the foundation of a buttery texture, fullness of flavour, honeyed and flowery aromas.
Sauvignon blanc provides a tangy touch to balance the blends. With its notes of citrus fruits it gives harmony and elegance to the wine.
Alongside the above we have reintroduced some minority varieties :
Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot for the red varieties
These two varieties are present in minor proportions in our blends, contributing complexity and peppery notes.
Sauvignon gris for the white varieties
Our Cuvée Caroline contains 5% of this variety in its blend, resulting in the addition of delicious tropical fruit aromas of pineapple and lychee. Its exhuberance and its contribution of fruit make it a precious component of our gourmet wine.