Domaine de Longue Toque
The vineyards are located on a mosaic of terroirs that draw their original character from different geological layers, altitudes and exposures.
The vineyard produces 5 appellations over 47 hectares: Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Cairanne, Côtes du Rhône Villages Plan de Dieu and Côtes du Rhône red and white. After 20 years in Terra Vitis (sustainable viticulture), 2020 marks the first year of certification for organic farming at the Domaine. A continuity in our desire to work the land and the wine with respect for nature and people.
2023 is to be the first harvest of the white Gigondas.
The wines of the Domain
Gigondas, our preferred terroir in the Dentelles de Montmirail
24 hectares – 25 parcels – On 4 of the 5 terroirs of the PDO
Between 150 and 470m. altitude – Over 3 geological eras
7 grape varieties – 2 wine colors
1 cuvée and 4 parcel cuvées
The diversity of geology, altitude and exposure enables us to select certain parcels to produce cuvées with unique personalities, in keeping with the PDO, that will delight wine lovers and connoisseurs alike.
– Terroir in the heart and north of the Dentelles massif, on Cretaceous limestone scree and marl in the Dentelles de Montmirail (Trois Yeux and Le Pourra) – secondary era.
– Triassic and Oligocene crescent of Joncuas, Longue Toque and Montmirail (sand, marl and limestone) in the southwestern hills of the appellation (Longue Toque and Platrières) – Tertiary era. The estate’s oldest Grenache vines are planted here. This is the heart of the estate.
– Ruban de safres (Miocene sand and sandstone) on the border between mountain and plain (lieu-dit Teysonnières) – Tertiary era.
– Terroir of gravel from the ancient alluvial terraces of the Ouvèze river (Hautes Garrigues) – Quaternary era.
VINEYARD MANAGEMENT
Massal selection & soil knowledge
Since 2011, we’ve been running a program of massal selection and private selection plantings on certain plots. The principle is to take a bud from a stock with the characteristics sought by the winegrower (grape quality, disease resistance, good adaptation to the climate, etc.) and graft it to make it grow. It is therefore an extension of the mother stock, without any genetic modification.
The aim is to maintain plant diversity in a vineyard.
Whether to replant a plot or replace a vine, massal selection enables us to preserve and perpetuate the authenticity of our winegrowing heritage. The small plots of Syrah and old Grenache in the Dentelles de Montmirail have tremendous potential and are perfectly suited to massal selection.
“Preserving biodiversity and not standardizing production is at the heart of this choice”. N Speranza
Understanding soils for sustainable management. To preserve our heritage, we wanted to go even further in understanding the specific characteristics of our estate.
In 2013, we called on oeno-geologist Georges Truc. Together with the Domaine team, he dug soil pits 2 to 3 meters deep in each plot to identify the different layers that make up the soils.
Thanks to the results of this study, we can better guide vineyard management and, when replanting, choose the most suitable grape variety.
Organic Agriculture and Biodiversity
For several years now, the Domaine has been committed to integrated and organic viticulture. As part of this approach, we take into account bio-indicator plants.
We observe the plants present in our plots because they provide information about the properties of the soil in which they grow. These properties are the result of the interaction between natural environmental conditions and cultivation practices.
In October 2019, we acquired a 7-hectare parcel of AOP Cairanne. In 2020, we observed its environment, wind exposure and sufficient water reserves. Part of the old vines, difficult to work, was entrusted to a farmer for 2 years to grow cereals. The soil and biodiversity will be richer!
The flora and fauna that can be observed in our vineyards bear witness to our cultivation practices and the health of our soils. Nature provides us with wonderful insights into how to care for our land, without the need for botanical expertise.
Maison Gabriel Meffre takes great care to protect biodiversity on its plots. It has also carried out a diagnosis of the estate and works in partnership with local associations for the protection of flora and fauna to further improve its knowledge. This know-how and the resulting expertise in the field contribute to the quality of the grapes and the upcoming cuvées!
