Set mainly on hillsides dominating the Yonne Valley, our vines are subjected to the semi-continental climate, Characterized by long and cold winters, wet spring and hot summers. The greatest climatic risks are spring frosts and hailstorms..
The subsoil, predominantly Kimmeridgian clay-limestone (Second stratigraphic stage of the Upper Jurassic), was laid down some 155 million years ago, and is defined by alternating very compact and hard limestone layers, and softer clayey marls containing fossilized marine bodies (exogyra virgula).
On the plateaus, we have Portlandian limestone subsoil (Superior layer of the Jurassic period, also named Tithonien) that are 150 million years old.
Our vines are an average of 40 years old, the oldest having been planted in 1940.
We seek to intervene as less as possible in the natural process and above all to limit inputs, both in terms of growing the vine and for the vinification.
We made the choice to grow our vines by implementing sustainable agricultural practices: It is the work carried out in the vines over the seasons that will determine the quality of the harvest.
In winter, we act to control futurs yields by using a short pruning of the vine. Pruned shoots are crushed on the spot to preserve microbial life of the soil.
In spring, we perform a debudding, always with the aim of controlling yields. It is also the awakening of the pests of the vine and the growth of grasses. Recourse to treatments is reasoned and optimized according to the appearance of the diseases, and the weeding is carried out essentially by mechanical work of the soil.
In summer, the vines grow so we must do a trellising. The woods that will carry the grapes are supported between two wires held by posts. It is also necessary to perform regular trimming, which will allow to limit the height of the vines to approximatively 1.40 meters.The weed control is assured by plowing the soil.
In autumn, we assiduously check the maturity of the grapes. We harvest the grapes only when they are perfectly ripe.
The mechanical harvest allows us to efficiently manage the harvest, day after day, according to the degree of maturity of each plot.
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