Clos de la Poussie: in a lamentable state

Clos de la Poussie: the ‘jewel’ of Sancerre

Clos de la Poussie: the ‘jewel’ of Sancerre

The Clos de la Poussie forms an arc of vines just to the north of Bué and is perhaps the village’s most famous vineyard, though Chêne Marchand is also well known. La Poussie is a monopole and is now owned by Patrick Ladoucette, who bought it from Cordier, its previous owners.

Clos de la Poussie: the ‘jewel’ of Sancerre

Clos de la Poussie: the ‘jewel’ of Sancerre

The Clos de la Poussie is limestone with very little soil and the upper part is extremely steep. Technically I suppose Poussie shouldn’t be called a Clos as there are no walls that enclose it but it is a fine amphitheatre that dominates Bué, which nestles beneath. Morgan’s Wine Merchants Ltd of Dublin, who sell the Clos de la Poussie wines in Ireland, have no doubt of its pedigree: ‘La Poussie is considered a jewel of the Sancerre Vineyards; this Domaine has a long history of making wine. The freshness and the elegance of these wines are revered by those who taste it. Thanks to the high quality of the pinot noir grape, La Poussie is proud to produce one of the appellation’s finest Sancerre Rosé and Sancerre Rouge. In white wine production the Noble Sauvignon Blanc Grape produces a voluptuous and elegant white wine.’

Clos de la Poussie: the ‘jewel’ of Sancerre

Clos de la Poussie: the ‘jewel’ of Sancerre

Clos de la Poussie: the ‘jewel’ of Sancerre

Sadly the reality is that parts of the Clos de la Poussie are in a lamentable state and the vineyard very far from being the ‘jewel’ of Sancerre. Erosion is clearly a very serious problem here – hardly surprising given the very steep slopes. However, much of the vineyard appears to have been neglected and abandoned to the elements with little ravines cut by water rushing down the slopes. In places vines have been washed away or left with their roots exposed. I've rarely seen a French vineyard in such a sorry state. All in all it’s a sad and shocking sight that does little to enhance the reputation of Baron Patrick de Ladoucette or his wines.

Clos de la Poussie: the ‘jewel’ of Sancerre

Ladoucette's sales window in Sancerre

A rather different, glossier view from the Clos de la Poussie site, part of the de Ladoucette website. Curiously there do not appear to be any close up pictures of vines on the steeper parts of the Clos.

'Voici notre histoire
La Poussie, joyau du Sancerrois, vin de Sancerre voluptueux et parfumé. Parmi tous les crus qui assurent la séculaire renommée des vignobles qui dominent la Loire royale, la réputation de La Poussie a gardé toute son intégrité originelle. Ses origines remontent au moins à l’époque capétienne comme en fait foi un document daté des environs de 1040. Plus près de nous, Honoré de Balzac écrit sur ces vignobles du Sancerrois « le pays possède plusieurs crus de vins généreux assez semblables aux produits de la Bourgogne et qui trouvent dans les cabarets parisiens une rapide consommation ». La Poussie produit un vin blanc de Sauvignon, léger, fruité, sec et nerveux, imprégné de son terrain argilo-calcaire. Avec ses parcelles de Pinot Noir, La Poussie élabore un Sancerre rosé suave et enchanteur, réservant ses raisins de Pinot Noir les plus choisis pour produire un sancerre rouge au goût subtil et délicat. Ces trois vins sont depuis 1993 la propriété du Baron Patrick de Ladoucette qui perpétue la très haute qualité de ces vins.'