“La Chevalière,” or “the knight’s lady,” is a reference to “Mas La Chevalière,” literally the “farmhouse of the knight’s lady,” the Laroche winery in southern France that was created by Michel Laroche. Surrounded by a wall, just like the “clos” enclosures in Burgundy, Mas La Chevalière is a place of history and character where the “jardins à la française” offer a Mediterranean accent.

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.

The 2017 vintage is surprising. Weather conditions were unusual: frost in winter, good amount of rain in spring and a very dry summer. These conditions moved the harvests 7 to 10 days earlier, giving a lower yield in comparison with the previous years. Yet, quality is here. The harvested berries showed a nice balance between sugar and acidity, and the must presented a complex and lovely aromatic structure. White wines are fresh and elegant; Shiraz and Grenache have a gorgeous potential. 2017 is as great as 2010!

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