Bernard Baudry, 2020 Chinon 'Les Granges'
Cab Franc du Jour #54
Les Granges is one of several single lieu-dit wines that Bernard Baudry produces from terroirs in the commune of Cravant-les-Côteaux, alongside Les Grézeaux and La Croix Boissée, with Le Domaine and Le Clos Guillot sourced from parcels in the Chinon commune. Within the estate’s range, Les Granges occupies the entry-level tier.
Les Granges: The Lieu-Dit
Les Granges is a sizeable lieu-dit of approximately 19 hectares with several vignerons holding parcels here. Bernard Baudry has a significant presence, with around 8 to 9 hectares, roughly half of the entire lieu-dit.
The site sits about 1.3km north of the Vienne River, on a gentle knoll at around 33m above sea level, relatively flat overall with a southern exposure. The soils belong to the recent alluvial terraces formed from Vienne River deposits during the Quaternary period. As is typical of these low-lying terraces close to the river and its tributaries, the vineyards can be susceptible to winter flooding, and frost risk can also be a factor. The Lower Turonian bedrock lies very deep and plays little role in the vine’s growing environment, and clay content is also limited.
The soils are deep, predominantly a sandy-silt topsoil with some parcels carrying a higher proportion of gravel, offering good water reserves and good drainage. The combination of winter flooding and the soil’s water retention capacity means the vines rarely experience drought stress, and yields here tend to be more generous than on the slopes or tuffeau chalk sites.
The vines in Baudry’s parcels were planted between 1985 and 1988, putting them at around 35 years of age.
In the Cellar
The wine is fermented with indigenous yeast in a combination of cement and stainless steel, with approximately 15 days of maceration on skins. It is then aged on lees for around seven to ten months before bottling.
Wine Details
Producer: Bernard Baudry
Appellation: Chinon
Commune: Cravant-Les-Côteaux
Lieu-Dit: Les Granges
Soil: Sandy-silt topsoil, sandy sub-soil, soil depth 1+ metre
Alcohol: 12.5%