Couly Dutheil: Vineyards
Today the Couly Dutheil vineyards are spread over 90 hectares of the Chinon appellation, which itself covers 2,300 hectares. The Couly Dutheil vineyards thus account for approximately 4% of the appellation, a significant slice. If all domaines were of this size, there would only be 25 domaines in the entire appellation, which is one of the larger in the entire Loire Valley.
These vineyard parcels are thus scattered far and wide, some on alluvial soils, some on cherished slopes of limestone and clay, and some on the limestone plateau behind the town. It is thus not possible to examine or describe every individual parcel, but I will certainly provide some guidance as to the most significant. First, though, a look at the approach to viticulture.
Viticulture
On the whole the vineyards are managed along the lines of viticulture raisonnée, rather than anything organic or biodynamic. Arnaud rationalises his use of chemicals with a discourse on the problems with copper sulphate and wettable sulphur, the main treatments available to organic domaines against mildew and oidium. The problem with organic viticulture is that a vigneron can be required to treat and retreat with considerable regularity, whereas with synthetic chemicals the vines require less frequent treatments. he says. This means fewer trips through the vines by tractor, less compaction to the soil, and less diesel being burnt, thus reducing the production of harmful greenhouse gases. Arnaud has weather stations in significant vineyards, such as the Clos de l’Echo, which he monitors to assess the impending risk of mildew and oidium before deciding to spray.
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