A substantial portion of the
Merlot vineyard can be found in the Mosson valley. The microclimate here is slightly cooler than elsewhere in the Montpellier region so that the grapes here need an extra week a year to ripen. The result is a more balanced juice. The vines grow in fertile, reddish, loess soil that is rich in calcium, iron and other minerals. The wines produced here are creamy, full, round and sultry.
The shared aim of the young dynamic team is to produce small quantities of high-grade Merlot wine. A wine with its own distinct signature that emphasises as much as possible the prevailing conditions such as the environment, climate and soil conditions.
In the vineyards, this results in an environment-friendly approach, with frequent ploughing and a small, healthy yield per vine.
The emphasis during vinification is on healthy, ripe or very ripe grapes, with careful selection during harvesting. Slow fermentation with careful temperature control and ageing in new oak barrels are the basis for this quality wine.
The approach of the team, both in the vineyard and in the cellars, is grounded on respect for tradition and the sensible use of new techniques.
The foundations of the high quality of the Montlobre wines is established in the vineyard under the management of Nicolas, a determined advocate of an environment-friendly, semi-macrobiotic approach.
Elsewhere, weeds in the vineyards are tackled using chemicals. At Montlobre, the vineyards are ploughed frequently, and insects and diseases are dealt with selectively on each vine. The result of this labour-intensive approach is healthy and dynamic soil.
Harvesting is done mechanically and/or manually, depending on the weather and the conditions in the vineyard.
