Chateau Routas Wild Boar Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
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The 642-acre property includes 135 acres of strategically planted vineyard parcels that create a mosaic throughout the rocky, heavily-wooded terrain in this unspoiled, high-elevation sector of Provence. Some vineyard sites have soils that are red as crushed brick, while others consist of crumbly grey limestone mixed with pockets of iron-rich, red clay, and stones that reflect the hot summer sun.
At 1,300 feet above sea level, the elevation is among the appellation's highest, providing cool nights that slow the ripening of the grapes, contributing fresh notes, good color and complexity, plus dictating harvest dates that are up to a month later than other estates. The estate also encompasses dense woods, olive trees, and oak trees hiding black truffles. Bright red poppies grow alongside brilliant yellow sunflowers, and the surrounding forests hide a substantial number of wild boars?– which are unfortunately a little too fond of the Routas grapes come harvest time.
Cabernet Sauvignon is the fourth most planted red grape in France, but maintains a higher impact in terms of prestige. In Bordeaux, France, it reaches sublime heights as the dominant component of the most celebrated wines from the Medoc and Graves appellations of the Left Bank.
Cabernet Sauvignon prefers well-drained gravel soils, like those of the Medoc, but it can grow with success in other types as well. It does well in various climates ranging from moderately warm to hot and produces small berries with thick skins resistant to insects and disease pressure. Those thick skins also mean high tannins, which along with the grape’s high acidity, equal terrific structure and as a result, Cabernet Sauvignon’s amazing ability to age well. Cabernet Sauvignon imbues a wine with profound depth of flavor, including notes of blackcurrant, blackberry, vanilla, cedar, pencil shavings and cigar box. Some of these result from the variety’s remarkable affinity for oak.
While Bordeaux produces the most critically-acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon, it also plays a role in the wines of the Southwest, Languedoc, Provence and even in the Loire in France, where it is permitted in small amounts in Bourgueil and Chinon.