Petit Calon is a blend of the grapes from the youngest parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Chateau Calon Segur vineyard.

Appellation

Saint-Estèphe.

Consulting oenologist

Éric Boissenot.

Soil

A thick layer of gravel laid down during the Quaternary Period. Predominantly clay sub-soil from the Tertiary Period. At the summit of the gravel deposits, there is also a fine layer of clay of lacustrine origin.

Area

55 ha (136 acres).

Production area

45 ha (50 ha planted).

Grape varieties

53% Cabernet sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 7% Cabernet franc, 2% petit Verdot.

Average vine age

22 years.

Pruning method

Double Guyot.

Planting density

8,000 vines/ha.

Yield target

45 hl/ha.

Harvest

Hand picking. A first selection of grapes on the vine.Mechanical sorting of the grapes by vibration, followed by hand sorting.

Vinification

Temperature-controlled conical stainless-steel tanks. Maceration 18 to 21 days. Pumping over twice a day. Fermentation at 26°C. Malolactic fermentation (indigenous lactic bacteria) in stainless steel at 20°C.

Ageing

15 months in one wine barrels. Fining with egg white.

Average annual production

Limited edition.