Chateau Laulerie Bergerac Rose 2017
Winemaker Notes
The region of Bergerac is located in Southwestern France, just to the east of of Bordeaux, along the Dordogne River. Bergerac has unfortunately been overshadowed by its more famous neighbor, but recently the region has been receiving a good deal of attention and acclaim for their rise in quality and the value found within. Monsieur Dubard, the proprietor of Chateau Laulerie, exemplifies this in his traditional and meticulous approach to grape growing and hands off approach in the cellar.
The Dubard family settled down as winemakers in the Bergerac region in the late ’70s. Their vines are situated on calcareous-clayish hillsides overlooking the right bank of the river Dordogne. With excellent South South-West exposure and a trellising system adapted to the spacing between rows, the grapes achieve balanced ripeness each year. Integrated farming techniques, including grass between vines, is environmentally responsible and helps to maintain the character of the terroir.
Offering the perfect balance of quality and value, Southwest, France is a recognized appellation that encompasses all wine regions in France’s southwestern corner (except for Bordeaux and Cognac, which merit their very own). Two of the more famous subregions here are Cahors, known for its Malbec, and Madiran, home of the robust Tannat grape. Bordeaux Blends are also popular red wines of the Southwest; Petit Manseng is the regions’s star autochthonous white variety.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.