“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.

2018 was a warm year in the Languedoc with heavy rainfall. The abundant rain in the spring prevented the plants from coming to harm. Following the July heat, maturation was held up somewhat, but August’s storms allowed any delays in growth to be overcome. A perfect state of health despite the high levels of pressure on plant health in the region, especially in the case of organic growing. A fairly early vintage, with a one-week shift compared to the previous year. An excellent vintage!

Appearance: Bright ruby hue

Aroma: Ripe and pulpy cherry aromas

Taste: Juicy mouthfeel combined with supple, velvety tannins

Aging Potential: 2 years