Frantz Saumon: Vineyards
While Frantz Saumon has relocated west of Tours, his vines remain gathered close to his old house, which sits on the Chemin des Cours, half-way along a roughly-surfaced side road just off La Grande Rue in the heart of Husseau. This is at the foot of the slopes that run up to the plateau behind, and just a short walk from other leading Montlouis domaines such as François Chidaine and Jacky Blot. There are a few slightly more distant parcels though; some are in Lussault-sur-Loire, further upriver, near Château de Pintray, some are on Husseau’s famous plateau where all the best names are located, and some are downstream near Chapitre, a small hamlet not too far from Montlouis-sur-Loire.
This broad spread of vines gives Frantz a selection of terroirs to work with, those vines in Lussault planted on sandy clay, and those downstream on clay and limestone (calcaire), while others are on clay and flint (silex). His vines range in age from 30 to 100 years of age, and are tended using organic methods ; where the soils are heavy he plants grass and other cover crops between the rows, only working the soil beneath the vine itself, whereas in vineyards where the soils are more easily worked he ploughs, lightly turning the soil beneath the vine. This may be achieved by machine, but Frantz is one of a group of vignerons in Vouvray and Montlouis who have banded together to work with horses on the vines, and so during the past few years some parcels have been ploughed by horse. What he has is mostly Chenin Blanc, of course, but he does have a few rows of other varieties, in white these include Menu Pineau and Romorantin, and in red Pinot Noir.
Please log in to continue reading: