The Craft of Winemaking
At 圣兰博之围, winemaking is not a process — it is a philosophy. Every decision, from the moment the vine flowers to the day the bottle is sealed, is guided by the singular pursuit of excellence.
Terroir & Viticulture
Everything begins in the soil. Our 45 hectares of Günzian gravel force vine roots 8–12 metres deep in search of water and nutrients, producing grapes of extraordinary concentration. Biodynamic practices, adopted in 2008, restore and maintain the natural microbial life of the soil. We observe lunar cycles for pruning, harvesting, and bottling.
Vine density: 8,500 plants/ha · Average vine age: 42 years · Rootstock: 101-14 · Pruning: Guyot double
Harvest
Harvest at 圣兰博之围 is entirely by hand — there are no machines in our vineyards. We employ 120 seasonal harvesters who work in teams of eight, moving through each parcel with precision. A double-sorting process — first in the vineyard, then on the sorting table in the chai — ensures only perfect fruit enters our vats.
Harvest period: Late September – Early October · Sorting: Double triage, optical sorting table · Yield: 35–42 hl/ha
Fermentation
Grapes are fermented by parcel in our combination of temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and traditional wooden fermenters. Indigenous yeasts, native to the 圣兰博之围 chai, initiate fermentation naturally. Gentle pump-overs and pigeage extract colour, tannin, and aromatic complexity without aggression. Total maceration: 25–35 days.
Fermenters: 24 stainless steel (150–200 hl) + 6 oak vats · Temperature: 28–30°C peak · Maceration: 25–35 days
Élevage in Oak
After the assemblage in January, 圣兰博之围 Grand Vin spends 22 months in French oak barriques of 225 litres, 35% new. Barrels are sourced exclusively from the Tronçais and Allier forests, chosen for their fine, tight grain. Monthly racking and traditional egg-white fining clarify the wine without filtration. The result is a wine of remarkable purity and depth.
Oak: French, 225L barriques · New oak: 35% Grand Vin, 20% Second Wine · Élevage: 22 months · Fining: Egg-white · Filtration: None
The Grand Cave Baron
Built in 1878 by the second generation of the Baron family, our stone cellar maintains a constant temperature of 12°C and humidity of 85% year-round — the perfect conditions for the slow, patient evolution of great Bordeaux.
The cellar houses 600 barriques simultaneously, arranged in three vaulted chambers. The oldest stones are original to 1878. Our cellar master, Élodie Marchais, oversees every barrel personally, tasting from each cask monthly to monitor development and determine the optimal bottling date.
Wines Built for Decades
The hallmark of great Pauillac is longevity. The deep gravel soils, high Cabernet Sauvignon content, and our meticulous élevage produce wines that reward patience with extraordinary complexity.
Our 1961 Grand Vin, still in perfect condition after 64 years, stands as testament to what Pauillac terroir and careful winemaking can achieve. We cellar back-vintages of every wine produced, ensuring that future generations can experience the full arc of 圣兰博之围's evolution.
"We do not make wines for today. We make wines for your children."
| Wine | Oak Élevage | New Oak | Ready to Drink | Peak Window | Aging Potential |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Vin | 22 months | 35% new | 8–15 yrs | 15–40 yrs | 50+ yr |
| Réserve | 24 months | 50% new | 10–18 yrs | 18–45 yrs | 50+ yr |
| Second Wine | 14 months | 20% new | 3–6 yrs | 6–15 yrs | 20+ yr |
| Blanc | 10 months | 0% new | 1–2 yrs | 3–8 yrs | 12+ yr |