Bernard Baudry, 2017 Chinon 'La Croix Boissée Chinon'
Cab Franc du Jour #41
Bernard Baudry is one of the benchmark producers in Chinon, producing several single lieu-dit terroir expressions of Cabernet Franc across predominantly the commune of Cravant-les-Côteaux, with some additional holdings in the Chinon commune. In total the estate farms around 32 hectares of vines, of which approximately 29 are Cabernet Franc, all farmed organically.
Today we are looking at their top cuvée from the lieu-dit La Croix Boissée in the commune of Cravant-les-Côteaux. This is a historic and highly regarded vineyard with a rich backstory, covered in more depth in a previous post on the feed. Here the focus is on the specificities of the microclimate and soils.
La Croix Boissée
La Croix Boissée is set about 2.5km back from the Vienne River on a pronounced south-facing slope of moderate steepness, ranging from 50 to 80m above sea level. The vineyard has a slight convex shape, which causes the topsoils to be somewhat shallower toward the outer edges. Of the 13 hectares of vines, 2.5 hectares are planted to Chenin Blanc, concentrated in the westernmost part of the vineyard where the soils are particularly poor.
Three distinct terroir types are found across the lieu-dit. At the top of the slope, a narrow band of Upper Turonian yellow tuffeau chalk appears. This is a harder, denser chalk with a stony, shallow topsoil that can experience water stress in drier years. Through the middle to upper portion of the slope, a wider band of Middle Turonian white tuffeau chalk, known locally as tuffeau de Bourré, takes over. This is the same prized stone used to build the châteaux of the Loire Valley: softer, more porous, with better water retention and a thin sandy-silt topsoil. Finally, toward the southeastern corner of the vineyard, a section of colluvium has accumulated over time from the erosion of the two chalks above. These soils are deeper, with a greater mix of clay, silt, and sand, and carry a touch more natural vigour.
Bernard Baudry’s Parcels & Winemaking
Bernard Baudry’s 2.5 hectares are concentrated in the centre of the lieu-dit, predominantly on the Middle Turonian white tuffeau chalk. The vines range in age from 15 to 40 years.
The wine is vinified in larger oak vats and then aged in older barrels for 24 months before bottling.
Wine Details
Producer: Bernard Baudry
Appellation: Chinon
Commune: Cravant-Les-Côteaux
Lieu-Dit: La Croix Boissée
Soil: Shallow (about 30cm) sandy-silty topsoil, Middle Turonian white tuffeau bedrock
Alcohol: 13%