“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.

The Pinot Noir grapes come from two distinct regions of the Languedoc: the Cévennes foothills in the northern Gard region (The Cévennes is a maze of deep valleys with winding rivers of clear waters, steep slopes covered in forests and jagged rock cliffs and ledges. More than a mountain chain, the Cévennes are in fact a multitude of many-sided open spaces which form the southern part of the Central Massif as it veers towards the Languedoc.); and from Limoux, in the hills south of Carcassonne in the western Languedoc, where the influence of a maritime climate provides cooler, fresher conditions. The soil is varied, with chalk, marl and schist predominant.

2011 was an excellent vintage in the South of France. Weather conditions were very fine, producing a high level of grape ripeness and exceptional balance of sugar and acidity. Cool temperatures at night in August and early September had a huge impact on the quality of aromas in the berries and, subsequently, in the wine. The wines will be very complex.

Appearance: Pale ruby
Aroma: Fresh red fruit with cherry overtones
Taste: Elegant and harmonious structure with fine,  velvety tannins
Aging Potential: 2-5 years