Charles Joguet

When under the management of its original founder, Charles Joguet, the domaine was one of the first in the Loire to vinify the grapes from each parcel separately to produce individual cuvees - a la Burgundy. Hence terroir has always been of prime importance here and the vineyards are managed accordingly. No weed-killers or pesticides are used and great care is taken to ensure that any treatments that are employed are not detrimental to the soil. For a number of years they have adopted the 'integrated pest management' method. This necessitates a very close observation of the vineyard and specialist knowledge of the biology of any disease. The followers of biodynamic viticulture do not impress Alain. Although he is against treating vines systematically, he says that it is impossible for a vine never to suffer from a disease, rot or mildew and that at such times, treatments are a unavoidable - albeit as lightly as possible. He does not believe in the influences of the moon on the vine or wine either and pays no heed to its position, even at bottling.

The Franc de Pied is only available in the finest years and is produced from a one-hectare plot of non-grafted vines on the silico-clay and silico-calcareous terroir of the Varennes du Grands Clos. The vines were originally planted in 1982 and parts had to be re-planted in 1992 and 1995. When vintages allow this plot is vinified separately in order to recapture the qualities of the pre-grafted Cabernet Franc. Yields are reduced to a maximum of 30 hl/ha here.