Practices in harmony with the nature that surrounds us
On the estate, every gesture is guided by a deep respect for the ecosystem that surrounds us.
Every action, from pruning the vines to harvesting, is carefully considered to minimize our environmental impact and promote biodiversity: cover cropping of the vine rows, maintaining hedgerows, limiting tractor passes, etc...
For us, environmentally friendly practices are essential to produce authentic wines that reflect the richness of our terroir.
« Engineer and oenologist by training, I am not inventing anything: I try to decipher the nature that surrounds me to let my wines tell their story. »
Our interpretation of the terroir
Terroir is a central concept in viticulture and gastronomy, designating a set of characteristics that influence the production of a wine.
We can identify 5 main components of terroir, the first 3 being the most commonly cited, and it even happens that terroir is limited to these in the collective imagination:
- the soil : mineral composition, structure, drainage, and water retention capacity of the soil directly influence the growth of the vines
- the climate : local climatic conditions, such as temperature, sunlight, rainfall, and seasonal variations, affect the development of the grapes as well as their ripeness
- the relief : altitude, sun exposure, and proximity to bodies of water can create microclimates favorable to grape growing.
These 3 components, despite humanity's extraordinary ability to modify its environment, often remain almost unchanged on our timescale.
The last 2 are, less often mentioned, sometimes antagonistic, but are mainly those on which we have the most impact:
- biodiversity : the presence of other plants, animals, and insects in the environment contributes to the natural balance of the vines and can play a role in protection against diseases and pests.
- human practices : cultivation methods, grape variety choices, winemaking techniques, and even local traditions shape the final character of the wine.
Terroir is therefore the unique combination of these factors that gives each wine its distinctive character, its own identity, often unrepeatable elsewhere. In other words, it is the imprint of the place from which the wine comes.
At the estate, our philosophy of terroir is based on a subtle harmony between the winemaker's know-how and the natural physical elements. By allowing nature to guide our approach, we seek to authentically express the unique characteristics of our terroir, thus creating wines that tell a story.
Exceptional plant material
Rooted in the former estate of Chausselières, Les Quatre Journaux benefits from the work of the Bosseau family who gradually built this vineyard over five generations of winemakers... and nurserymen!
Their expertise and locally recognized know-how have allowed for the establishment of healthy vines perfectly suited to their terroirs.
This selected, multiplied, and maintained plant material allows us to produce high-quality grapes, which are an essential raw material for the production of great wines.
The free expression of the terroir in each vintage
The philosophy of the domain during vinification as well as during aging is very simple: the least possible interventions! The quality of the grapes is therefore essential so that the raw material and the actions of the winemaker can suffice on their own for the creation of beautiful cuvées that each tell the story of their terroir.