Clos de la Dioterie & Clos du Chêne Vert
The domaine itself is located in Sazilly, on the left (or southern) bank of the Vienne as it flows towards the town of Chinon. In itself this is a little unusual, as when I think of Chinon the vineyards that first spring to mind are those on the superb south-facing slope on the opposite bank, around Cravant-les-Coteaux, where the likes of Philippe Alliet and Bernard Baudry have vines. Alternatively, it might be the degraded limestone and sandy soils up in Beaumont-en-Véron, where Olga Raffault is located, that some might think of first, or perhaps those vineyards around the town itself, such as Couly-Dutheil and the Clos de l’Echo. But there are several domaines of note located on the left bank also, not least Charles Joguet, but also (only a few minutes drive away) Domaine de la Noblaie.
Nevertheless, one of the domaine’s most renowned vineyards does indeed lie on the limestone slopes on the opposite bank. This is a domaine where many of the lieux-dits come through into the range of cuvées, and so they are worth examining in some detail. All are worked according to organic philosophies. I look first at the two top vineyards of Clos de la Dioterie and Clos du Chêne Vert.
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