Domaine Thomas-Labaille: Vineyards
The Thomas-Labaille domaine extends across 10 hectares, of which 8 hectares is planted to Sauvignon Blanc and 2 hectares is planted to Pinot Noir. Of the 10 hectares, 80% is in Chavignol, still very close to the cellars even though they have moved from the village, the vines taking advantage here of the profound limestone slopes. Jean-Paul says that between 60% and 70% of the vineyards are on calcaire, by which I think Jean-Paul means the various Oxfordian limestones that of Sancerre, while between 30% and 40% are on terres blanches, the famed Kimmeridgian marl like that on Les Monts Damnés (where Jean-Paul Labaille does indeed own some vines). Across the domaine as a whole, the vines are aged over 30 years on average.
Of the vineyards described, Jean-Paul Labaille is perhaps proudest of the 1 hectare he has on Les Monts Damnés, although he also has a small parcel on La Grande Côte which, he says, has the same terroir as Les Monts Damnés. On these two more exalted sites the vines are older, with an average age of more than 60 years here.
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