Verdier-Logel: Vineyards
Dotted around Verdier-Logel on the slopes of the Monts du Forez there are numerous parcels of vines, of which 17 hectares belong to the domaine. These vines are planted on two specific terroirs which characterise the Côtes du Forez appellation, these being basalt and granite. Maxime Gillier thinks that granitic soils, sometimes with overlying sand, tend to make a lighter wines, while the volcanic basalt soils, which are richer with clay and iron, make a more serious wine. “If you want to see the differences in the wines from these different terroirs, the basalt and granite, you must be organic in the vineyard though”, says Maxime.
The domaine is indeed organic and Maxime fully intends to continue in this vein. The 17 hectares of vines he tends include 14.5 hectares of Gamay, the only variety eligible for the Côtes du Forez appellation. The remaining 2.5 hectares are a mix of Viognier, an obvious nod to the vineyards of the northern Rhône, which are much close than at first you might think, and Pinot Gris, which as already indicated can perhaps be tied in with Jacky Logel’s origins, although in truth this variety can be found planted further downstream in many other parts of the Loire Valley. The white varieties, planted in 2004, are only eligible for the IGP d’Urfé classification, or Vin de France.
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