Wineries are very energy intensive as some areas require to maintain very low temperatures (14-15ºC) even during the summer months. The climate of Pauillac has an annual average air temperature of 14ºC, which turns out to also be the case all year round at 10m underground. The transformation of the winery included burying the cellars to reach that depth to benefit from the thermal inertia of the ground in order to condition the spaces naturally. On top of the buried cellars, a succession of spaces helps to create natural buffers that reduce the thermal exchanges with outdoors and other unconditioned rooms. This principle of Matryoshka dolls helps to progressively control and stabilise temperatures naturally. Rammed earth was used as main material in the cellar helps not only to regulate temperature, but also humidity.

"Our design approach seeks to weave natural and enriching links between the past and the present to respond to the specificity of the Château Lafite Rothschild site. Since its origin, the Lafite estate and its buildings have undergone many transformations to adapt to the evolution of working methods and wine-making over time. This historical palimpsest, which brings together spaces from different periods and architectures, today poses significant functional problems, to which an ambitious project must provide lasting answers. We choose to preserve this spatial heterogeneity, constitutive of the identity of the place, to found a coherent narrative and an architecture harmoniously integrated into this unique setting, and adapted to today's requirements."
John Pawson and David Leclerc Architecture

The climate of Pauillac has four distinct seasons, with an average yearly temperature of 13.9ºC. This average temperature can be found across the year at a depth of - 9m below ground, which was probably handy during the past centuries to maintain the temperature of the wine during the ageing process. Summers are warm and sunny with temperatures that can reach up to 35ºC on peak days, but can drop to 10ºC on the cooler nights. Winters are mild, with an average temperature of 6ºC. Temperatures can reach 16ºC during the warmest days, but can go below freezing at night. Winter days are humid, both during the day and night. In 2050, temperatures on average will increase by 2ºC.