Wine Stocks
Wine stocks
60% of the vine stocks inherited by Mas des Combes are red varieties and 40% are white. Our reds are: 25% Duras, 25% Fer Servadou (Braucol), 10% Gamay, 15% Merlot and 25% Syrah. On the Syrah plots, leaf thinning and ‘green harvesting’ take place in July.
For the whites: 20% Muscadelle, 30% Mauzac, 30% Len de L’El and 20% Sauvignon blanc.
There is high density planting across the entire vineyard, at a rate of
5000 vines/hectare. Half of the land is laid to grass to avoid problems connected with erosion and also to get the most out of the soil.
Environmentally responsible cultivation:
Our vines are grassed and maintained in accordance with the principles of environmentally responsible cultivation. We prefer to use ‘preventive’ rather than ‘curative’ methods to deal with disease. Vine training: debudding, leaf thinning, green harvesting on some plots. Our aim is to prepare the vines with the minimum intervention: no chaptalization, no added artificial tannins, very little yeasting, minimum sulphur.
Grape harvests:
Depending on the maturity, harvesting begins at the end of August/early September and ends some time in October; for the Gamays, sweet whites and wine made by the ‘Méthode Gaillacoise’, the grapes are harvested by hand.
Vinification:
Traditional method for reds and dry whites. ‘Méthode à l’ancienne’ (ancient method) for sparkling wines like the Méthode Gaillacoise demi-sec with fermentation and temperature control. Estate bottled.