Château Ripeau 2020

The Grégoire family, that previously owned La Rivière in Fronsac, acquired this estate in January 2015. The vineyard has grown from 12.07 to 16.1-ha as recent plantations have come into production. The varietal mix has evolved with these new plantings and is better adapted to Ripeau's terroir. The total acreage now includes 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vineyard is planted in sandy-gravelly soils atop a ferrous clay subsoil. Density is 6,666 vines/ha for 75% of the planted surface and 9,615 vines/ha for 25%! The vines' average age is 35 years. Vineyard management techniques include green harvesting, no use of chemical herbicides or pesticides, mechanical tilling and sexual confusion of vine pests. Yields in 2020 were 30.75 hl/ha. The fruit was hand-harvested between September 17th and 29th. The juice was fermented at low temperatures in thermoregulated truncated, stainless-steel tanks, and new 600-liter oak barrels, with an 21-day maceration. Malo was conducted in barrels. Aging in 100% new barrels for 18 months from eight selected coopers including Boutes, Belair, Taransaud, Seguin Moreau, Tonnellerie Bordelaise and Darnajou. The selected blend is 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 68,18% of the production, was bottled as the estate’s grand vin. Claude Gros consults.