1988 CHÂTEAU L’ARROSÉE 1988

Château l'Arrosée is a Grand Cru Classe Saint-Emilion, located on the southern part of Saint-Emilion. Located on the southern flank of the hills of Saint-Emilion, next to Chateau Ausone, l'Arrosé is distinguished by the  two types of soils in which the three grape varieties are planted in the same proportion (merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc). The part of the vineyard planted on the sheltered south-west coast  of Saint-Emilion enjoys maximum sunshine for the natural clay-loam calcareous soil. This exposition promotes the maturity of crops where as the ground provides good regulation of plant nutrition in  water as well as in minerals. Historically, Château l'Arrosée owes its name from the presence of an underground water source. The second part of the vineyard is made up of sandy loam at the foot of the slope. These two types of soil contribute to the complexity and the unique characteristic of the vineyard.60% Merlot are blended with 20% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernets set this wine apart from the other estates in this appellation.  The vines are an average of 35 years old and the oldest are 45 years old. The growing of the vines follows the traditional methods, budding, green harvesting, leaf removal. The harvest is hand picked and sorted. After vinification in theroregulated vates, the wine is aged for 15 monhts in new barresl. The annual production of Château l’Arrosée is around 40,000 bottles.