The story of an exceptional estate
A family estate first and foremost
THEGrosbois Estateis located on the right bank of theVienna Valley, in the heart of theChinon PDO appellationThis former fortified farm was originally built in the 15th century, then partially destroyed in the 1960s. Nicolas and Sylvain Grosbois initiated the reconstruction of this historic Clos.
While the origins of this domain date back to the 15th century, it will be necessary to wait until1991so thatJacques and JocelyneTwo fruit growers are taking over the management of the vineyard on the estate, which has always belonged to theGrosbois family.
Today, it's their two sons,Nicolas and Sylvainwho, after making wine around the world, took over from their parents. Nicolas, the eldest, took over the estate in 2006 to cultivate it little by little according to the principles of thebiodynamicsSylvain, on the other hand, only joined the estate in 2019 after two consecutive harvests at the estate to help his brother.
The Grosbois Estate vineyard
The pure expression of the terroir
The vineyard ofGrosbois Estateextends over 20 hectares of vineyards, most of which are located in the heart of aGrand Clos, once destroyed. The vision ofNicolas Grosbois, who arrived in 2006, promoted the management of the vineyard in accordance with organic and biodynamic farming.
The heart of the vineyard lies mid-slope, sheltered from flooding, on the gentle hillsides of the commune of Panzoult in the Loire Valley. These slopes consist primarily of friable soils of millarges and yellow quartz sands. These characteristics are favorable for the vines, as they retain heat at the end of the growing season, in September.
Vineyard cultivation at Domaine Grosbois
A vision geared towards organic farming, biodynamics and polyculture
The vineyard ofGrosbois EstateIt is cultivated with Cabernet Franc as its king grape variety. The winemaking follows the principles of organic and biodynamic agriculture, which aim to be respectful of the environment and nature.
These principles dictate that the vines be pruned using the poussard method to promote sap flow and limit the onset of disease. In an effort to respect soil biodiversity, the soil is only worked superficially.
During theselast 5 yearsApproximately ten hectares have been planted, using massal selections. This is a first for Domaine Grosbois, as no vines have ever been planted on these terroirs before. The trials are divided into:
- 4 rows every 4 rows
- This allows for a more comprehensive view of the progress and homogeneity of the vines.