Charles Joguet
Summary
Domaine Charles Joguet operates 36 hectares across Chinon's diverse terroirs, producing primarily Cabernet Franc wines from sandy alluvial soils, clay-limestone plateaus, and chalky hillsides with favorable south and southwest exposures. The estate pioneered single-vineyard bottlings in the region and maintains this tradition through organic farming practices, hand harvesting, and terroir-specific vinification protocols that honor each site's distinctive character.
Heritage & Leadership
Charles Joguet established his eponymous domaine in 1957, following his decision to abandon a career in painting and sculpture to take over his family's vineyards in the Loire Valley's Chinon appellation. Unlike many of his contemporaries who sold their grapes to cooperatives, Joguet chose to bottle his own wines, becoming one of the first in the region to emphasize single-vineyard bottlings that highlighted Chinon's diverse terroirs.
In 1997, after four decades of meticulous work establishing the domaine's reputation, Joguet sold the estate to the Genet family, with Jacques Genet taking operational control. The transition marked a new chapter while maintaining continuity in the domaine's approach. In 2006, Kevin Fontaine joined as technical director and has since assumed leadership of winemaking operations, working alongside cellar master Matthieu Vallée. Under their guidance, the domaine has continued to focus on site-specific expressions of Cabernet Franc while implementing technical improvements in both vineyard and cellar.
Vineyards & Wines
Domaine Charles Joguet encompasses 36 hectares of vineyards spread across several of Chinon's most distinctive terroirs. The estate's holdings include parcels in the renowned Clos de la Dioterie, Clos du Chêne Vert, and Clos de la Plante Martin—historic vineyard sites with documented histories dating back several centuries.
The vineyards span three primary soil types that define Chinon's terroir diversity: sandy alluvial soils near the Vienne River, clay-limestone plateaus, and chalky hillsides with high limestone content. The domaine's oldest vines are found in Clos de la Dioterie, where Cabernet Franc plantings date back to 1930. Vineyard elevations range from 50 to 100 meters above sea level, with many parcels featuring south and southwest exposures that optimize ripening in this northern wine region.
Cabernet Franc comprises 30 hectares of the estate's plantings, with the remaining 6 hectares dedicated to Chenin Blanc. The domaine produces approximately 150,000 bottles annually across 14 different cuvées, with particular focus on their single-vineyard expressions: Les Varennes du Grand Clos, Clos du Chêne Vert, Clos de la Dioterie, and Clos de la Plante Martin.
Philosophy & Practice
The domaine's viticultural approach centers on enhancing terroir expression through attentive vineyard management. Since 2006, the estate has progressively converted to organic farming methods, receiving official certification from Ecocert in 2019. Vineyard work includes green harvesting to control yields, leaf removal to improve air circulation, and hand harvesting with multiple sorting passes to ensure optimal fruit quality.
In the cellar, the domaine employs a combination of traditional and modern techniques. Fermentation occurs in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for the estate wines, while the single-vineyard cuvées ferment in open-top wooden vats. Maceration periods vary by vineyard and vintage, typically ranging from 15 to 28 days. Aging protocols are equally site-specific: entry-level wines mature in stainless steel, while premier cuvées age in French oak barrels (5-30% new oak) for 12 to 24 months depending on the vineyard source and vintage characteristics.
The domaine practices minimal intervention during vinification, using indigenous yeasts for fermentation and limiting sulfur additions. Bottling occurs according to the lunar calendar, reflecting the estate's adherence to traditional Loire Valley winemaking principles while incorporating modern precision where beneficial to quality.