Terroir
“Terroir is the expression of a heritage, of a long history, both natural and human”, it represents the complex interactions between climate, topography, geology, biology…and the vine growers, because it is man who makes his mark on the earth that he cultivates. Nothing motivates us more than to produce a wine that, in its flavours, bears the traces of its origins.
Nicolas Thienpont’s other sites
Château Pavie Macquin
Château Larcis Ducasse
Château Bellevue
Château Les Charmes Godard
Château Puygueraud
Château La Prade
  Climate and microclimate

The vineyard of Larcis Ducasse looks south over the Dordogne river valley from the Pavie slopes. This location tempers the climatic excesses while allowing optimal maturation of the grapes. Sheltered from northerly winds and protected by the nearby river, frosts and droughts pose no problems for these vines. The grapes ripen fully while keeping their acidity and fruit character thanks to the alternation of warm days and cool nights.
  Topography

The advantages of growing grapes on slopes have already been well demonstrated. On the one hand, the vine benefits from plenty of sunlight and on the other, from natural drainage. At the same time, water circulation on the slopes can lead to damage and erosion and it must therefore be carefully controlled. Careful preservation of hedges, study of the permeability of the soil and the installation of drainage ditches allow management of runoff water.
  Geology

The vineyard of Larcis Ducasse, made up of 11 hectares, is planted on many different geological formations. From the bottom of the hill to the plateau, we come across many different geological layers:
- The bottom parcel lies on alluvial deposits from the Dordogne river. The soil has a sand-clay texture with a little chalk near the surface.
- On the lower slopes, we find tertiary formations with clay-limestone soils of a colluvial nature overlying fluvial sands.
- On the steeper slopes, we have “molasses de fronsadais”, a soft chalk rock with silt-clay soils.
- Nearing the plateau, the Castillon clay appears, this is a green clay with small nodes of chalk of about 1 metre in depth.
- Finally, we reach the chalk plateau where we find clay-limestone soils. The chalk forming the plateau is a fossil-based.

This range of terroirs, combined with the different grape varieties, gives rise to expressions as diverse as they are complimentary.
 

Biology

Microorganisms, mushrooms and bacteria, as well as smaller animals, play an important role is the dynamic of the soil. They are the ‘interface’ between the soil and the plant and without them; the terroir cannot “speak” and worse, may die. It is for us, those who exploit the soil, to use them to our advantage. Aware of their worth, we stimulate them with the addition of biodynamic compost, planting of companion plants and the working of the soil carefully adapted to the season.

“It is this, the definition of terroir which integrates the different scales of time and space and which places man as actor and revelator of viticultural potential; would there, in fact, be great terroirs without man?”
A celebrated Alsatian winemaker rightly said, ”…those that believe that terroir exists naturally and spontaneously are wrong. The terroir, it is man who prunes and ploughs. It is the human aspect that makes it…”