Château de Targé: Vineyards
The domaine is located in Parnay, one of the Saumur-Champigny communes that runs up to the première côte, sandwiched between Souzay-Champigny (downriver) and Turquant (upriver). The château sits nestled against the limestone cliff, in an elevated position. The vines, meanwhile, are largely gathered along the première côte, right on the edge of the plateau behind the château. The Targé vineyard runs all the way down to the church at Parnay (pictured), with only one parcel – behind the church – not in their possession. This parcel, by the way, is the Clos Romans, currently in the ownership of Thierry Germain of Domaine des Roches Neuves. Édouard’s ownership of such a huge swathe of vines along the première côte was largely achieved through a series of vineyard swaps he carried out in his younger days.
The terroir here is classic Saumur, with a sparse superficial layer of clay, between just 20 and 50 centimetres, over a huge depth of Turonian limestone. This was one of last places to come up out of water in ancient times, says Paul Pisani-Ferry, hence there was more limestone laid down here than anywhere else along the length of the Loire. The limestone is rich in fossils, particularly ammonites, and there are a number of impressive examples dotted about the grounds at Château de Targé.
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