Château de Suronde: Vineyards
The Quarts de Chaume appellation is a rather diminutive one, as there are about just 40 hectares that qualify. Despite this, when I went to check out Château de Suronde for the first time even I found myself driving into parts hitherto unknown. The château sits in the very southeastern corner of the appellation, just to the east of Château Belle-Rive, and southeast of Château L’Écharderie. It is accessed by a long, bumpy, dusty, rubble-strewn track which leads down from the top of the appellation.
As of 2020 there are, according to Kathleen Mareels-Van den Berghe, 5.5 hectares of Chenin Blanc planted here, with the option to replant another 1.5 hectares. Historically there was 6 hectares within the Quarts de Chaume appellation, while 1 hectare lay just outside, and would today be eligible for the Coteaux du Layon Premier Cru Chaume appellation. Despite this arrangement, in truth only 1 hectare is today earmarked for Quarts de Chaume, while the majority of the remaining vineyard – at the time of writing 4.5 hectares – is to be used for dry Anjou
The parcel of Sauvignon Blanc has long gone of course, this having been uprooted, and replanted to Chenin Blanc. Although this will introduce some young vines into the mix, on the whole the vines are of a good age, with some parcels having been planted over 70 years ago.
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