Mas La Chevalière

Languedoc, France

Pinot Noir, IGP Pays d’Oc – 2013

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  • 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

    • 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.

    • Cultivation: “Lutte raisonnée,” or “reasoned protection,” (using chemical intervention only when required); cordon pruning, fruit thinning and high trellising in the vineyards
    • Size: 30 hectares (74.13 acres)
    • Vine Age: 20 years
    • Soil: Varied, with clay and limestone predominant.
    • Density: 4,500 vines/hectare (1,820 vines/acre)
  • Vintage Report

    • The 2013 vintage started with a biting cold winter and a mild spring that made the vegetative cycle slower than usual and ultimately reduced the yields naturally. The moderate weather during the summer and the bright end of autumn allowed the grapes to ripen fully under excellent, healthy conditions. Finally, harvest took place under beautiful weather, three weeks later than usual. Given these conditions, the Pinot Noir grapes ripened beautifully, without heaviness.

    • Harvest Date(s): Early September
    • Yields: 45 hl/ha (3.33 tons/acre)
  • Vinification

    • Fermentation: 12 days at 26°-28°C (78°-82°F) in stainless-steel tanks with daily pump overs to increase skin contact and aerate the wine
    • Malolactic: 100%
    • Aging: 6 months in stainless steel, no barrel aging
    • Filtration: Minimum filtration to preserve maximum natural character of the wine
  • Technical Information

    • Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
    • Alcohol: 12.5%
  • Tasting Notes

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

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