Cabernet Sauvignon, IGP Pays d’Oc – 2013
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Introduction
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“La Chevalière,” or “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: 26 years
- Soil: Varied, with clay and limestone predominant
- Orientation: West and northwest
- Density: 4,500 vines/hectare (1,820 vines/acre)
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Vintage Report
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The 2013 vintage started with a biting cold winter and a mild spring that both made the vegetative cycle slower than usual and ultimately reduced the yields naturally. The moderate weather during the summer and the bright end of autumn allowed the grapes to ripen fully under excellent healthy conditions. Finally, harvest took place under beautiful weather, three weeks later than usual. In these conditions, Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are beautifully ripe but without heaviness.
- Harvest Date(s): Late September
- Yields: 45 hl/ha (3.33 tons/acre)
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Vinification
- Fermentation: Whole bunches pressed in pneumatic press under protective conditions, then settling at 12°-15°C (53°-59°F) for 24 hours; 12 days of fermentation
- 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 color
Aroma: Intense nose offering pungent black currant and subtle herbal tones
Taste: Intense fruit concentration laced with developed tannic structure; good intensity and nice, juicy mouthfeel
Aging Potential: 2 years
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