“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 our vineyard partners in 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 soils are varied, with clay and limestone predominant.

Quite unexpectedly, while cool weather in the spring presaged a longer ripening season, dry and hot weather in August changed the prediction. This heat wave increased the pace of ripening significantly. Fortunately, storms brought a moderating effect at the end of August, with cooler nights that favored aroma development. Weather conditions were excellent on the first days of September, and a strong wind from the north with cool temperatures at night had a huge impact on the ripeness of the berries.

Appearance: Pale ruby hue
Aroma: Ripe and pulpy cherry aromas
Taste: Juicy mouthfeel combined with supple, velvety tannins
Aging Potential: 2-5 years