Val de l'Ours Rouge Classique
The vintage
The spring of 2023 was very similar to 2022, with a particularly hot April and very low rainfall in winter and spring. The vines started early and by mid-May they were already showing signs of water stress impacting vegetative growth. At the beginning of August, the vineyard was at mid-veraison and water stress was increasing, with Chardonnay and Grenache showing a better resistance. The second half of August was scorching, but 15 mm of rain enabled the harvest to start on August 25th. Another 50 mm of rain fell in mid-September, easing the end of the ripening process and giving the vines a chance to breathe after a very difficult year. The harvest went on smoothly.
Location
The estate is nestled in the rugged hills just behind the Mediterranean coastline of Narbonne, in the South of France.
Terroir
The soils are very shallow and rocky on the slopes, and deeper and sandy on the plain. Yields are voluntarily kept very low in order to preserve the vines and ensure the production of high quality grapes.
The grapes come from flatter, lower lying parts of the estate where the deeper soils with underlying sandysilt provide the optimal growing conditions for grape varieties more associated with the Bordeaux region : Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Blended with Mediterranean grape varieties, they contribute to the wine’s complexity.
Winemaking
The grapes are picked at optimal ripeness, destemmed and then vinified using traditional maceration methods. The maceration period varies from 12 to 15 days with gentle extraction and fermentation at fairly low temperatures (around 25°C) in stainless steel vats in order to preserve the wine’s full aromatic potential. Ageing is then carried out in vats so as to keep all of the fruit’s freshness and purity.
Grapes
Tasting
The wine displays a beautiful ruby color.
The fresh and expressive nose opens with notes of raspberry and sweet spices.
Soft and silky on the attack, this wine reveals a wide aromatic bouquet leading to a rounded palate marked by the indulgence of forest fruit and the lushness of garrigue.
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