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first component : the soil
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On the hillside of Jurancon, the vineyards are situated
on the upper slopes with different exposures, varying
from south (opposite the Midi d'Ossau) to south-east
or south-west.
The landscape has an obvious
north-south divide, which highlights two different types
of exposure on the Chapelle de Rousse: :
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Steep, well-exposed slopes at high altitude to the South/South-West.
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Very warm circular slopes facing to the East, which
benefit from early morning sunshine and are protected
from the westerly winds.
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The native rock is composed
of the famous chalky limestone conglomerate of Jurancon.
The topsoil is made up of thin layers of sandy clay
and silty soils. These are a result of weathering of
the rock (conglomerate of Palassou) with its famous
"phantom pebbles". These are alternated with accumulated
layers of clay, alluvium and sand with the pebbles on
top, sometimes in localised patches. The soils are less
developed in certain areas and therefore relatively
thin, notably on the southern slopes where conglomerate
outcrops can be found on the surface.
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The diversity of the land,
with its' numerous geographical faults and important
leaching, gives a great variety of different soils,
which in turn demand different cultivation methods.
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In order to control each parcel
of vines differently, in 1999 we mapped out all the
different soils at Clos Lapeyre, according to the most
ancient method ("la Méthode Hérody") By assessing each
surface and the depth of each soil, and by analysing
soil samples, we divided the 12 hectares of vineyard
into 15 different soil types (amongst which some are
inevitably very similar).
The aim of this "map" is to help
us to understand how each soil lives and the best type
of fertiliser to feed the vines, while simultaneously
preserving or even improving the current fertility of
the soil.
No agricultural method should focus solely on the needs
of plants in a particular soil to decide on the best
overall method of fertilisation, for fear of destroying
the soil's natural fertility in the short or long term.
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The soils potential depends upon
the quality of the complex organo-minerals in the soil,
which are a direct result of the quality of the clay
and silt (and their interaction with the iron, which
is stabilised by calcium). The extent of the decomposition
of the humus also plays a part. This potential is a
combined result of genetics determined by the natural
rock and the climate, and the evolutionary state of
the soil .
These precise observations help
us to suggest the best type of manure or methods of
cultivation, based on the history of the parcel and
our mechanical capacities…
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To illustrate, here are some examples of the uses of
this "map" with regard to soils: :
- Work on the soil of the medium slopes with high clay
content ;
- Working the subsoil after the harvest to ensure adequate
drainage
- Addition of calcium and other organic material, in
the form of home-made compost ;
- Stopping the use of unhealthy synthetic products……
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In conclusion, we
know that our soils are sufficiently rich in mineral
elements but these elements need to be accessible so
that the vine can benefit. It is microbial activity
that makes these essential nutrients available to the
plants. In order to maximise this activity and allow
our vines to express the Lapeyre terroir in the most
natural way possible, we have cultivated the vines biodynamically
for the last few years. We therefore don't use any weed
killer, or synthetic products on our 10 ha of vines:
we have reintroduced the use of copper and sulphur mixed
with plant-based treatments to control problems of mildew
and oidium, and we systematically carry out certain
procedures to reduce yields and improve quality (green
harvest (to concentrate the vines energies into producing
fewer grapes), research into the best training and trellising
methods, as well as vigorous leaf pruning.)
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Welcome
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