Cabernet Sauvignon, IGP Pays d’Oc – 2012
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Introduction
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“De La Chevalière,” or “of the knight’s lady,” is a reference to “Mas La Chevalière” which is literally the “farmhouse of the knight’s lady,” the Laroche winery in southern France where this wine is produced.
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Vineyard Profile
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Béziers is located in the center of the Languedoc region, just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the Mediterranean.
- Cultivation: “Lutte raisonnée,” or “reasoned protection,” (using chemical intervention only when required); cordon pruning, fruit thinning and high trellising in the vineyards
- Size: Purchased grapes, vineyard size varies based on source/location
- Vine Age: 25 years
- Soil: Varied, with chalk, marl and schist predominant
- Orientation: West and northwest
- Density: 4,500 vines/hectare (1,820 vines/acre)
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Vintage Report
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Quite unexpectedly, while cool weather in the spring presaged a longer ripening season, dry and hot weather in August changed the prediction. This heat wave increased the pace of ripening significantly. Fortunately, storms brought a moderating effect at the end of August, with cooler nights that favored aroma development. Weather conditions were excellent on the first days of September, and a strong wind from the north with cool temperatures at night had a huge impact on the ripeness of the berries.
- Harvest Date(s): Mid-September
- Yields: 44 hl/ha (3.33 tons/acre)
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Vinification
- Fermentation: 12 days at 26°-28°C (78°-82°F) in stainless-steel tanks with daily pump overs to increase skin contact and aerate the wine
- Malolactic: 100%
- Aging: 6 months in stainless steel, no barrel aging
- Filtration: Minimum filtration to preserve maximum natural character
- Bottled: Under low pressure on a bottling line designed to protect quality
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Alcohol: 13.5%
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Tasting Notes
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Appearance: Dark ruby-red color
Aroma: Intense nose offering pungent black currant and subtle herbal tones
Taste: Ripe cassis fruit on layers of finely-cut tannins; a long and elegant finish
Aging Potential: 3 years
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