“De La Chevalière” is “of the knight’s lady,” 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.

Our Sauvignon Blanc grapes come from Béziers near the Mediterranean and from the foothills of the Cévennes. 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. In these areas of the Languedoc, the influence of the maritime climate provides cooler, fresher conditions. Vineyard orientation is eastern, and 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.

Pressing: Gently whole-bunch pressed in a pneumatic press, followed by a minimum settling period of 48 hours and removal of grape solids at 5°C (41°F)

Appearance: Pale straw color
Aroma: Elderflower with mineral overtones
Taste: Elegant structure with fresh fruit and lime peel; a long and refreshing finish
Aging Potential: 3 years