Our earth
Geology of the vineyards of Domaine de Meussaumont in the Côtes de Meuse
"Time has considerable importance in geology. During a human life nothing seems to change, human occupation modifies the local landscape but not the main lines of the relief. However, year after year, the wind and especially the water sculpts the reliefs and gently but surely carries enormous quantities of earth, sand and gravel towards the large rivers which bring them to the sea. In a few tens of thousands of years, we will no longer recognize the landscapes Today, the hills will have disappeared, the coasts will have moved further west, the rivers will have moved or will have disappeared. Time is an hourglass and nothing can stop the sand from flowing. and will release new fossils that it was imprisoning.
Christian Pautrot, Fossils & Rocks of Lorraine
Walk through the vineyards, it is not uncommon to collect fossils there. They recall that 200 to 250 million years ago, a warm, shallow sea covered our region with a tropical climate. Oysters, mussels, scallops, starfish, algae and corals were deposited over millions of years and gradually developed into a coral reef in the sand and mud.
These marine materials transformed into hard rocks during the Secondary Jurassic Period, 150 million years ago. The accumulation of these rocks is the origin of our parent rock, Oxfordian limestone.
Then, year after year, rainwater, temperature changes and microorganisms will melt the rock and give life to our soil. The complete dissolution of the rock will give limestone, and its impurities will form clay.
The wind and water will transport the clay down the hillsides and leave a light mixture of marl, clay, and limestone on the hillsides which provides the ideal condition for the vines to flourish.
The limestone will provide structure and porosity for proper root development, while the clay will contain the water and nutrients needed to feed the vine.
The limestone will enhance the structure of the wine, giving it freshness and a hint of minerality. The clay will keep the soil temperature cold, the maturity will be slower and more uniform, which will give more aromatic, intense and concentrated wines.