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Bordeaux – Saint Julien
The word ‘Terroir’ means a lot more than just “soil” which is, however, its primary significance, but it does also include notions of climate, topology and geology. Although some wine producers, particularly in the New World, tend to discount ‘Terroir’ as an important factor in the quality of a wine, the vineyards of Langoa and Leoville Barton have no other explanation for the differences in character of the two wines.
Langoa and Léoville Barton are situated in the heart of the prestigious Saint-Julien appellation. The 45 hectares of Léoville and 15 hectares of Langoa are planted on this gravel soil with clay sub-soil and include a large proportion of old vines which produce the best quality. The grape varieties are represented by 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc in both vineyards ; the methods of vinification are also the same.
These can only be explained by differences of ‘Terroir’, since other important factors such as grape varieties, vine culture and winemaking are virtually the same on both properties. It is also interesting to note that the analysis of the wines show little variation in terms of alcohol, acidity, tannin, etc., yet the two wines do have their own personality and show distinctive contrasts in bouquet and palate. The soil of both vineyards is basically gravelly with clay sub-soil; the depth at which the clay is to be found and other soil characteristics vary from one part of the vineyard to another making it even more difficult to define exactly what are the major differences in the two vineyards.
Another important factor in the make-up of these vineyards is the drainage; if considerable progress has been made recently in some sectors of winemaking, the art of good drainage was well understood and applied by previous generations. To produce good wine, vines do not require rich fertile soil as this would produce big berries with a high ratio of juice to skins, whereas the opposite is the ideal. For the same reason, an excess of rainfall is not desirable for making high quality wine and what rain there is must be allowed to drain off rapidly.
The appellation Saint-Julien is generally considered to be one of the very best wine producing areas in the world and Chateaux Langoa and Leoville Barton are proud to be situated in the very heart of this exceptional region.
COLUMBIA GORGE - established in 2004- Includes areas in Washington State and Oregon with fewer than eight wineries.
- Located in Southwest Washington – total area is 1794 hectares with approximately 300 vineyard acres.
- Primary grape varieties – Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris.
- Moist marine influences from the Columbia River meet dry air from eastern Washington allowing constant airflow along with warm days and cool nights provide full, ripe flavor profiles and good acid levels.
COLUMBIA VALLEY - established 1984- Washington's largest viticultural region, covering almost 11 million acres (4,451,700 hectares) representing a full third of Washington State's land mass.
- More than 17,000 vineyard acres (6,880 hectares) of wine grapes planted and approximately 15 wineries.
- Columbia Valley's vast size allows for a number of meso and micro-climates.
- Vineyards planted on predominately south-facing slopes, increasing solar radiation in summer and promoting air drainage in winter.
- Merlot is the most widely planted varietal, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
- Riesling and Syrah are also planted in significant quantities.
- Growing season of 180-200 days with annual rainfall averaging 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm).
- Columbia Valley contains Red Mountain and both the Yakima and Walla Walla Valleys within its borders.
HORSE HEAVEN HILLS - established 2005
- 2,444 ha (6,040 acres) vineyard area.
- 4 wineries.
- Top varieties produced: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
PUGET SOUND - established 1995- More than 32 vineyard hectares of vinifera grapes planted.
There are nearly 35 wineries located within the greater Puget Sound region.- The temperate climate rarely suffers from prolonged freezes in winter and enjoys long mild & dry summers.
- The core area of this appellation has a growing season that is drier and sunnier than many classic wine grape growing regions in Europe.
- Semi-permeable cemented subsoil allows the deep-rooted vinifera vines to survive the late summer soil water deficit.
- Precipitation averages 38cm to 76cm per year, mostly falling in the winter dormant season, with a growing season of over 180 days.
- Madeleine Angevine, Siegerebbe and Muller-Thurgau are the predominant varietals.
- Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir also show promise in this appellation.
RATTLESNAKE HILLS - established 2006
- 607ha (1,500 acres) vineyard planted.
- 17 wineries.
- Top varieties produced: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, Riesling.
RED MOUNTAIN - established in 2001
- Located at the east end of the Yakima Valley; has 10 wineries.
- 1,635 hectares situated between Benton City and Richland.
- Over 287 vineyard hectares currently planted.
- Best known for producing red varietals, Red Mountain is widely planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and Sangiovese.
- Good air, drainage and light soils encourage the vines to seek nutrients via deep roots.
- Irrigated vineyards allow growers to control vine vigor and ease vines into dormancy before winter.
- Growing season averages 180 days with rainfall from 15-20 cm annually.
- Red Mountain is located within the larger Yakima Valley, at its easternmost tip.
WAHLUKE SLOPE - established 2006
- Naturally bounded by the Columbia River to the west and south, by the Saddle Mountains on the north, and on the east by the Hanford Reach National Monument.
- The Wahluke Slope AVA lies entirely within the established Columbia Valley appellation and is home to more than 20 vineyards and at least three wine production facilities.
- The 81,000 acre (32,780 hectares) region features approximately 5,200 acres (approximately 2,100 hectares) of vineyards: nearly twenty percent of the total wine grape acreage in the state.
- Top grape varieties: Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc.
- Wahluke Slope has one of the driest, warmest climates in the state, allowing nearly complete control of vine vigor and ripening through irrigation.
WALLA WALLA VALLEY - established 1984
- Walla Walla has more than 55 wineries and more than 486 hectares of vineyards.
- Cabernet Sauvignon is the leading varietal with Merlot, Chardonnay and Syrah the other predominant varieties.
- Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese are also represented.
- Loess derived soils which are essentially unconsolidated, unstratified calcareous silt.
- Growing season of 190 to 220 days with annual rainfall averaging 32 cm per year.
YAKIMA VALLEY - established 1983- Washington State's first appellation includes more that 40 wineries.
- 4,047 vineyard hectares, over one third of Washington's vineyards.
- Most widely planted grape is Chardonnay, followed by Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
- Riesling and Syrah represent significant acreage, with Syrah in particular on the rise.
- Silt-loam soils predominate.
- 190 day growing season with annual precipitation of approximately 20 cm.
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About Orca
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Featured Wineries
Chateaux Langoa & Léoville Barton
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