François Crochet: Vineyards
François Crochet has vines scattered over more than thirty parcels mainly around Bué, as well as some near Crézancy to the west and Sancerre and Thauvenay to the east. He has 7.35 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc most of which (about 70%) is planted on the chalky-limestone soils of the region known as caillottes, which is hardly surprising as this is the archetypal terroir for Bué. The remaining 30% is planted half on Kimmeridgian limestone with clay, known locally as terres blanches, and half on silex or flint. A number of the individual terroirs come through as cuvées in the portfolio of wines, so I discuss them in more detail further down the page.
As for Pinot Noir, there are 3.15 hectares which is divided equally between the first two terroirs, with none planted on flint. The vines, which average more than 25 years of age, are inter-planted with cover-crops between alternate rows, whilst between every other row they plough and hoe, to remove superficial roots and to control weeds. The yields are controlled by bud reduction in the spring and in some cases a later green harvest.
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