Domaine Réthoré Davy: Vineyards
Domaine Réthoré Davy is located just to the south of the village of Saint Rémy en Mauges, which places it about 15 kilometres southeast of Ancenis, 30 kilometres from the city of Nantes, and it is a similar distance east to the vineyards of the Coteaux du Layon. As is typical in this corner of the Loire Valley, the soils are dominated by schist, where Christophe has Gamay, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir planted. Areas of flint and quartz tend to play host to Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. He and his team have 40 hectares of vines all told, aged 27 years on average. The plantings include 15% Chardonnay, 20% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Pinot Gris when it comes to the whites, although a small area has also been planted to Viognier in recent years. The reds are 20% Gamay, 14% Pinot Noir, 18% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, with 4% Abouriou bringing up the rear. There is also a little Côt. As with the whites, however, another new variety has also recently jointed the fray, this being Syrah.
The work in the vineyard is carried out in a reasoned, environmentally respectable manner, Christophe and his team adhering to the Terra Vitis charter. They work the soil by hand, and plant greenery between the rows. The vines, which are trained large et haute, have their yields controlled by pruning and bud-rubbing, and there is leaf-plucking around the bunches as they ripen.
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