Château La Mondotte
The origin of this small property dates back to the early nineteenth century. It was acquired in 1971, along with Canon and Gaffelière The Clos of the Oratory, by Count Joseph-Hubert von Neipperg comes from an ancient noble family from Valley Württemberg where it already owns vineyards. In 1985, the areas initially assigned to a manager, are directly administered by Stephan von Neipperg, an agricultural engineer and son of Joseph-Hubert then aged 28. It was installed two years ago with his wife Sigweis Canon La Gaffelière. During the review of the classification of St. Emilion 1996, the Wine Commission requires Château Mondotte hitherto not rated, has its own facilities while, to date, the wines were vinified on the property of Canon the Gaffelière.
Stephan von Neipperg decided to use this small area as "lab-scale" designed to develop an exceptional wine regardless of the unit cost. To mark the difference, the domain name is changed to "The Mondotte" for the first vintage in 1996. Heavy investments are incurred and the appropriate means implemented with the decisive cooperation as winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt. At the time, it just was coming off his first successes in Pavia-Macquin neighboring area of La Mondotte. It was after the huge success recorded Mondotte Stéphane Derenoncourt engage the consulting career that made him famous worldwide.
It remains today a consultant Mondotte and areas of Stephan von Neipperg. Located in the town of St Laurent des Combes, semi-Mondot deTroplong on the plateau of Saint-Emilion, the vineyard of 4.5 hectares spread over a variety of clay-limestone soils with silty bedrock. The vine sinks down deep. Good natural drainage and favorable exposure make it a particularly early terroir. The vines are Merlot (75%) and Cabernet Franc (25%). The average age of the vines is 50 years and planting density of 6,000 vines / ha. The vines are throughout the year subject to painstaking work designed to promote optimal ripening: soil work, strictly organic fertilizers, weed, bud pruning, suckering, leaf removal, green harvest, reasoned fight against diseases.
