Cabernet Sauvignon, Languedoc – 2023
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Introduction
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WINERY Michel Laroche was one of the pioneers in the resurgence of quality winemaking in the south of France in the early 1980s. In 1996, he created Mas La Chevalière, a state-of-the-art winery on the grounds of a splendid 18th-century guesthouse, with the goal of producing wines that truly reflect the diversity of the Southern French varietals, climate and terroir.
WINE 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from selected terroirs in the Languedoc in the Limoux area. Cabernet Sauvignon is a famous variety which grows perfectly mainly on claylimestone soils. It is appreciated for its freshness, acidity and soft tannins. Fresh mint with a nice frame of red fruit.
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Label
- The Label: “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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Mas la Chevaliere Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from Béziers, in the center of the Languedoc region from 20 year old vineyards with South and East orientations in clay and limestone soils.
- Appellation: IGP Pays d’Oc
- Location: Languedoc
- Cultivation: Sustainable, Solar
- Viticulture: “Lutte raisonnée,” or “reasoned protection,” (using intervention only when required); primarily cordon pruning with fruit thinning and high trellising in the vineyards
- Vine Age: 20 years old
- Soil: Clay-limestone
- Exposure: South and East
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Vintage Report
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2023 was marked by a drought, especially in Hérault, Audois coast, and Pyrénées Orientales. However, Mas partnership areas (Limoux, northern Hérault, and Gard) were spared. Harvest began on 16 August 2023, early morning with Chardonnays. Pre-harvest temperatures, cool nights, and moderate days, retained grape acidity. Despite midAugust heat, our responsive team (night harvesting, plot selections) and cold-pressing maximized juice potential. Our cool, high-altitude terroirs shone, with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir offering diverse aromas. Overall, 2023 produced homogeneous wine qualities: fine balance in whites and good concentration in reds, respecting grape variety expression.
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Vinification
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Whole bunches pressed in pneumatic conditions, then settling at 12-15°C for 24 hours. 12 days of fermentation. 100% malolactic fermentation. Aged for 8 months in stainless steel tanks.
- Aging: 8 months in stainless steel
- Filtration: Minimum filtration to preserve maximum natural character, then 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%
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Tasting Notes
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The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep ruby color. Notes of black berries and spices on the nose. Exceptionally fine tannins.
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