Winemaker Notes
Fragile in name, but not in persona, our 2017 rosé from Department 66 in Maury, France is inspired by the venerable wines of the southern Mediterranean. Employing time - honored techniques with modern technology at our “cave” winery, it is sourced from one hundred year old dry farmed, head trained vines. A delicate extraction of these low yielding vineyard lots was carried out in small stainless steel fermentation tanks at cool temperatures to capture optimum flavors and acidity. Further, there are distinctive mineral notes that resonate from the famous black, schistous soils that are ever- present on the domaine. After fermentation, the wine is bottled forthwith to retain its brightness and complement lighter fare and warm, sunny days.
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.
An extensive appellation producing a diverse selection of good quality and great values, Languedoc spans the Mediterranean coast from the Pyrenees mountains of Roussillon all the way to the Rhône Valley. Languedoc’s terrain is generally flat coastal plains, with a warm Mediterranean climate and frequent risk of drought.
Virtually every style of wine is made in this expansive region. Most dry wines are blends with varietal choice strongly influenced by the neighboring Rhône Valley. For reds and rosés, the primary grapes include Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. White varieties include Grenache Blanc, Muscat, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino, Macabéo, Clairette, Piquepoul and Bourbelenc.
International varieties are also planted in large numbers here, in particular Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The key region for sparkling wines here is Limoux, where Blanquette de Limoux is believed to have been the first sparkling wine made in France, even before Champagne. Crémant de Limoux is produced in a more modern style.