Cabernet Sauvignon, IGP Pays d’Oc – 2014
-
Introduction
-
“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.
-
-
Vineyard Profile
- Vineyards: Béziers is located in the center of the Languedoc region, just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the Mediterranean. Vineyard orientation is south and east; the soil is predominantly clay and limestone, elevation 200 meters (656 feet)
- Appellation: Pays d’Oc IGP (Indication Geographique Protegée)
- 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: 20 years
- Soil: Varied, with clay and limestone predominant
- Density: 4,000 vines per hectare
-
Vintage Report
-
This year the grape varieties benefited from a dry summer without any heat wave. These climatic conditions combined with a picking date that was normal and seasonal, have resulted in a beautiful harvest of ripe grapes. 2014 wines are well balanced with outstanding complexity.
- Harvest Date(s): End of September
-
-
Vinification
- Fermentation: Whole bunches pressed in pneumatic press under protective conditions, then settling at 12° to 15°C (53° to 59°F) for 24 hours; 12 days of fermentation
- Malolactic: None
- 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
-
Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- Alcohol: 13.5%
-
Tasting Notes
-
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
-
