Vineyards : The « terroir » is distinctive,80% of the estate being on the plateau, characterised by a thin layer of the hardest type of limestone known locally as « calcaire à astéries ». The remaining20% is situated on the slopes below the plateau. Altitude is between 75 and 100meters with a remarkable orientation, very good ventilation and day long luminosity. The vineyard viticulture is both organic (AB Label) and biodynamic (Biodyvin and Demeter Labels).
Vinification method : The transfer of intact fruit into the vats is achieved solely by gravity. Maceration and pre fermentation is achieved at low temperatures by introducing an inert gas into the vats (vats : 50% wood, 50 % cement). Fermentation is undertaken by the use of indigenous yeasts and temperature is controlled to less than 25°C. The wine is matured for approximately 7 months in barrels (25% new wood, 75% barrels of 1 and 2 year sold) and then 12 months in cement vats.
Production : 29000 bottles.
Since 2000, Thierry Valette has owned this Castillon vineyard. Made with care, the wine established itself from the start as one of the appellation's most interesting vintages, with a deep and eminently racy style. The vineyard, now cultivated in biodynamics, confirms all hopes. The great wine, of classic style, stands out for its straight forwardness and density: this bottle made for the table ages remarkably well in the great years. In addition to the first wine, Thierry Valette offers three excellent cuvées, including two so-called thirst-quenching (Bistrot and Pervenche) which reconcile us with Bordeaux wines for quick consumption. It should be noted the consistency of the range and the desire to make both wines of immediate pleasure and wines of great depth.
AGRICULTURE IS THE BASIS OF CULTURE – by MAURICEBEJART
I put this sentence by Maurice Béjart in the spotlight because I am deeply convinced that agriculture is one of the most important subjects which we now have to worry about.
Of course, cities and commerce have been, and will remain for a long time essential factors in the development of civilization, but the issues facing humanity today, the qualitative leap in "consciousness" that we must undertake to maintain the Earth in a condition to support us goes through a radical "updating" of our relationship to the environment.
And as such, autonomous peasants are essential actors (to whom we should more often give the floor rather than to the so-called experts) in the world of tomorrow.
The fascination that the world of wine has for many people these days results from this need to be connected to something essential, something that connects the Earth on which we walk and the Cosmos from which life is come.
And the vine (like all plants) puts us in front of the spectacle of this osmosis every day. In addition, the making of wine also requires us to be a little "alchemist" because the process of fermentation of the grape despite all the knowledge developed on the production of nectar still conceals many secrets (open?) Which remain kept in the vats.
By producing a straightforward and personalized wine (that is to say that could not be produced elsewhere), it remains possible to argue that current globalization can also remain the bearer of culture, singularity and humanity.
As a producer, wine is a product that requires a lot of surpassing oneself in order to capture the energy of a place in order to restore it in tastes and aromas.
This is what we are trying to do in Puy Arnaud.
"THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN AESTHETIC RULEAND BIOLOGICAL HARMONY. " Goethe
We have been walking with Biodynamics since the 2005/2006 season.
I had already converted the vineyard to non-certified organic farming since 2001 (then in official conversion since2006)
The impulse, while I was asking myself a lot of questions without making up my mind, came from my meeting with Anne Calderoni who pushed me to experiment before sharing my life and ensuring a decisive role of inspirer (advisor and trainer of the team: wines, vines and Biodynamics) from 2004 to 2014. We were then ready to assume the implementation of the application of the preparations as well as their elaboration on the property (500,501 and Maria Thun).
Since 2015 I have taken decisions in consultation with Nicolas Cosse, my assistant and Cellar Master at Puy Arnaud since 2008, without neglecting each other's opinions, for example in the context of my meetings with my friends from Biodyvin and / or with colleagues within MABD Aquitaine or in trade fairs or conferences and various internships. Stay alert, research, experiment and share experience.
It seems to me that the practice of biodynamics on a domain implies from a certain point a work on spirituality and it happens that I have been practicing Yoga and Meditation for a long time which explains why I also used a little of this Eastern vision to explain to me the effects and the principles of action of Biodynamics. We are working more and more on energetics, the transmission of information and messages by vibratory phenomena.
I also use Bio energetics and Geobiology in addition to control the effects of preparations as well as to manage other issues.
This first name makes it possible to understand that it is an organic agriculture which has in addition to the principles of specific actions:
- Dynamic by the reintroduction of the powerful influences of planets close to Earth, more felted but more constant from more distant, more subtle and infinitesimal planets on constellations and other galaxies-dynamic and in a way Homeopathic in the dilution and chaotization of the preparations base (dung compost and silica) in an energizer then in the application on the land.
- Phytotherapeutic by the systematic use of plants (yarrow, Chamomile etc ... in the activation of composts as well as the use of herbal teas, decoctions, macerate of plants in accompaniment of phytosanitary treatments in order to gradually develop the resistance of plants.
It is a holistic approach which takes into account above all the whole and not the detail ... It is a method which rather quickly brings astonishing results on an agricultural site (development of biodiversity, return of fauna and a very rich and varied flora) and the result is in the Glass!
