The distinctiveness of this hillside, apart from its stony soil of friable shale that gives an attractive vibrancy to the wine, is its topography. This hillside is, in fact, in a cutoff meander of the Aubance. It is relatively low, hence the risk of spring frosts is accentuated as the ground warms up rapidly after winter. However, this hillside is very conducive to autumnal morning mists so favourable to noble rot. The hillside is divided into two parts by a narrow road: to the east a gentle south east facing slope and to the west the crest of the hill with a south west facing slope that starts out very gently but is very steep at the bottom. (Grandpierre).

The lowest part of the hillside is the rockiest (where Grandpierre comes from), while Cabernet Sauvignon is planted on the upper part where it expresses all the power and concentration of Rocca Nigra.