HISTORY OF CHÂTEAU PRADEAUX chateaupradeauxaoc@wanadoo.fr
The estate was brought into the PORTALIS Family in 1752 by Jean-Marie-Etienne PORTALIS, minister of NAPOLEON, co-author of the Civil Code and author of the Concordat. After the war, in 1945, Baroness PORTALIS and the Countess Arlette PORTALIS, her daughter, entirely replanted the vineyard, mostly with Mouvèdre. Countess Arlette PORTALIS was very active in order to get the «APPELATION BANDOL AOC» for Bandol Wines. Since 1983, Cyrille PORTALIS, her great nephew, and Magali, his wife, are continuing the achievement of the great Lady.
CULTIVATION OF VINES
No chemical fertilizer is used. The only products used are sulphur against oïdium and cupper sulfate against mildiou. Located in seaside area, the evaporation of the sea, in the summer time, produces a humidity beneficial for the vines. A light breeze coming from the sea perpetually cleans the air, avoiding the use of insecticides. MOURVEDRE, a noble plant of Bandol, likes red earths with chalky rocks.
HARVESTING AND WINEMAKING
Harvesting is performed manually by a 10 person local team. The whole grape is lightly crushed, and thus poured in a cement tank for 8 to 10 days of fermentation. Drop and press wines are separated for the malolactic fermentation. Thus oak casks are filled with the wine which will slowly perform evolution over 3 or 4 years. The great percentage of MOURVEDRE obliges to keep the wine this long stay, which gives a particular aroma to the wine. (18 months is the minimum time required to obtain the Bandol Appellation).
TECHNICAL FORM
Manager : Cyrille PORTALIS
Appellation : Bandol A.O.C., since 1941
Area of the vineyard : 21 hectares
Age of vines : up to 50 years
Varieties : Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Grenache noir
Climate : Mediterranean, 2 miles from the sea
Cultivation style : goblet pruning, natural fertilizer assured by a flock of sheep
Nature of soil : lightly clayey but essentially chalky
Vintage : manual, no machines
Wine-Making : traditional style in concrete tanks
Aging : 3 to 4 years in oak casks
Composition of wines :
Red : 95% Mourvèdre 5% Grenache
Rosé : 60% Mourvèdre 40% Cinsault
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