Vincent Gaudry: Vineyards
The domaine is actually located in Grand Chambre, a little hamlet in the commune of Sury-en-Vaux which lies north-west of Sancerre. It remains 9.5 hectares in size, and this includes 1 hectare of Pinot Noir, the rest is naturally all Sauvignon Blanc. The vineyards take in all three of the classically described Sancerre terroirs, terres blanches (Kimmeridgian marl), caillottes (weathered limestone, often Portlandian) and flint. It is rich in old vines, and when there is a need for replanting or complanting Vincent Gaudry produces new vines by massale selection, the cuttings taken from a small parcel of 90-year old vines.
In terms of the work in the vineyard, Vincent prunes to aim for low yields, typically 35-40 hl/ha. The viticulture follows biodynamic principles, Vincent ploughing in spring and early summer, and thereafter he leaves grass cover between the rows. In a manner perhaps akin to Nicolas Joly, some of Gaudry’s beliefs go beyond the use of biodynamic preparations and herbal tisanes though. In particular he has some beliefs about the energy that runs through the vineyard and cellars, and he aims to capture this energy through his work. He achieves this by positioning standing stones around the vines, and this philosophy continues into the cellar, dictating where certain barrels rest during the fermentations or élevages.
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