VIEILLES VIGNES 2020 (Jean-Marie CHALAND)

TERROIR

In the village of Viré, the terroir is made up from soils formed during the Lower and Middle Jurassic era, between -199 and -161 million years, when Europe was entirely covered by the seas. The marine elevation and the hydrodynamics variations shaped the grounds where the vines are planted : the thick layer of Pholadomya marl (Pholadomya is a mollusc living in the sea depths) results from a sedimentation in cold and deep sea depths at the Upper Bathonian period (around - 164 million years); the latter rests on an older oolithic limestone layer dating from the Middle Bathonian, (-166 million years), which deposit occured in a warm and shallow sea, rich in vertebrate and invertebrates organisms.

WINEGROWING & WINEMAKING

The area benefits from a micro-climate which protects the vines from the cold north winds and gives the grapes longer sunshine. The winegrower practices a culture respecting the principles of Organic Agriculture (ECOCERT certification) since 2003: no chemical treatments or insecticides.

The grapes are manually harvested, sorted and fermented in stainless steel tanks (70%) and oak barrels (30%) at low temperature with indigenous yeasts.
The must then matures on fine lees for 10 to 15 months in stainless steel tanks (70%) and oak barrels (30%) where it completes its malolactic fermentation.
After racking, the wine is bottled at the estate.

Winemaking guaranteed without chaptalisation or acidification.