2006            2006   APPELLATION : A.O.C. Médoc Cru Bourgeois   GRAPE VARIETIES : 40% Cabernet Sauvignon 55% Merlot 4% Cabernet Franc 1% Malbec   SOILS : ”There is no great vineyard which does not overlook the river...” The position of Loudenne’s vineyard is ideal. Its gravely ridges slope gently down towards the Gironde Estuary which acts like a mirror. Loudenne also benefits from sea breezes which are propitious for ripening the grapes. Soils are mainly gravely loams on calcareous clay.   HARVESTING : During the 2006 harvest the waether was alternation of rains and very beautiful sunny days. Thus, more than ever, the work completed by our teams was decisive. Thanks patience, we took all our time to collect the prettiest possible grapes. The harvest spread out from September 21 to October 11, enabling us to obtain perfectly riped grapes.   VINIFICATION : In stainless steel and concrete vats lined with epoxy resin. Vatting time : 3 weeks. Punching down of the cap and pumping over. Malolactic fermentation takes place in new French oak barrels as the aromas from the wood are much better accepted by the wine. This ancestral technique provides more roundness to the wine as well as silky tannins.   AGEING : For 16 months in French oak barrels. 30% of the barrels are renewed every year. Choosing different coopers adapted to our wines enables us to obtain an aromatic complexity.   TASTING : A beautiful red carmine color. An expressive nose of red fruits enhanced with wooden notes. Tannins are strong, ageing potential wine straight and elegant with a long-lasting finish on the fruit.   SECOND WINE : Les Rives de Loudenne   ADDRESS : Château Loudenne – 33340 St Yzans de Médoc   OWNERS : Marie-Claude & Jean-Paul Lafragette   OENOLOGIST : M. Rolland et M. Fakorellis   MANAGEMENT : Florence LAFRAGETTE   MARKETING : SCS Lafragette de Loudenne Chteau Loudenne 33340 Saint-Yzans de Médoc Tél. : 05.56.73.17.82. / Fax : 05.56.09.02.87. E-mail : f.reverdy@lafragette.com Site Internet : www.lafragette.com