“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.

Minervois, Béziers, Agde, Bédarieux, Montpellier, Nîmes: encompassing both the western and eastern Languedoc regions. A wide range of origins to build complexity in the wine. All areas are under maritime influence which provides cooler, fresher conditions. Vineyard orientation is to the west and northwest. The soil is varied, with clay and limestone predominant.

A warm and dry winter was followed by clear skies and fresh breezes during the summer months. The grape varieties benefited from a dry summer without any heat waves. These climatic conditions, combined with carefully chosen harvest dates, resulted in a beautiful harvest of perfectly ripened grapes. The 2015 vintage in the Languedoc produced a balanced vintage with fruitiness and minerality.

Pressing: Supervised at the property of origin by the Laroche team; whole bunches crushed in pneumatic press, then 24 hours settling at 12 C and 15 C (53 F to 59 F) to allow the aromas to be absorbed into the must
Fermentation: 12 days of fermentation at 15 C (59 F) in stainless-steel tanks
Malolactic: None
Aging: 6 months in stainless-steel tanks, no barrel aging
Filtration: Minimum filtration to preserve maximum natural character of the wine
Bottled: January 2016. Under low pressure on a bottling line designed to protect quality

Appearance: Clear, pale straw color
Aroma: Strong citrusy aromas on the nose, with yellow-fruit richness
Taste: Bright flavors of ripe fruit in the mouth; good balance and aromatic finish