Domaine Cousin-Leduc: Vineyards
Domaine Cousin-Leduc is located in Martigné-Briand, close to the peripheries of the Anjou appellation, and a not that far away from the Layon, which snakes around the town, to the south and then up to the west. The villages of the Coteaux du Layon appellation are just a short drive to the west, with the closest – Bonnezeaux – perhaps 5 or 6 kilometres distant. The vineyards amount to 10 hectares all told, and are planted to a smorgasbord of classic Loire varieties led by Cabernet Franc, Grolleau and Gamay, as well as Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, the latter perhaps not commonly thought of as a Loire variety (rightly so) although there are in fact extensive plantings in existence, and it plays an important role in a number of appellation blends up and down the length of the Loire.
The soils underfoot are black loam over limestone, and the viticultural philosophy is firmly biodynamic, with no exceptions. Naturally, the vineyard work is manual with assistance for the more heavy-duty tasks, such as ploughing, from one of Cousin’s four horses. Cousin enjoys working with animals rather than machines, and I think it is fair to say that he has been instrumental in the return of horses to the Loire’s vineyards. He teaches on the use of the horse in the vineyard at the viticultural college in nearby Montreuil-Bellay, and the alumni includes familiar ‘natural’ names such as Sébastien Riffault and Alexandre Bain.
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