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CAZELLES... two pairs of (experienced) hands... a new adventure |
Anne Gros and Jean Paul Tollot, two winegrowers in Burgundy for over 20 years, have combined their expertise to serve the fine terroirs in Cazelles, in the Minervois !!! Love at first sight ?... Absolutely ! Reflection ?... Of course !
We chose Cazelles for the diversity of its soil, made of limestone, clay and sandstone, for the discovery of 4 main cepages (Carignan, Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault), for the quality and the wide age range of its vines, the privileged environment at the foot of the Black Mountain, its altitude of 220 metres (identical to Vosne- Romanée).
A building was created to grow, receive, make and care for these fine terroir wines. It has been designed with great attention to detail, respecting the energies, the wines and the people... A beautiful architectural structure made of simple but noble materials...terracotta, wood, stainless steel... Roundness is eveywhere... the road, the hilles, the tanks, the barrels... the wines.
the vintage 2008 was born of our work in tandem:
Anne and Jean Paul trimming, during the green harvest, during the wine making and the maturing period.
Anne attaching the supports, pruning, lifting, hoeing... not forgetting all the administrative tasks.
Jean Paul dealing with the mechanics, looking after the soil, and thephytosanitary treatments.
Thibaut is now helping us to work the 1' ha, with tender loving care, in a reasoned way, with the tilling.
Our first vintage : 2008
We expected a racy style, laced with minerals, and fresh. We had a lot more! A very good balance of sugar and acidity ! A reason for such a result ? Slow maturity, cool nights, temperatures around 17 degrees during the harvest... This rminds us of the standard conditions in Burgundy... Harvest from September 18 to October 5.
This first vintage came to life with anxious anticipation. It did not disappoint ! It is vibrant.
Each plot and cepage were vinified separately in order to get acquainted with their expressions. We waited a year to discover their particuliarity and complementarity. One year of maturing before deciding on their blending.
Four vintages were born. They now rest in a Burgundian shaped bottle known as The Authentic. The colour orange played a decisive role in this Domaine... Cellars, materials, labels and cartons are all in harmony, like the colour of the Earth merging with the Sun.
The 50/50 : a true table wine
This cuvee is born of the blending of 3 cepages to form a table wsine, a real one !!!
Our young 30 year old Cargignans and our 40 year old Cinsaults joined a nice cudee of young 18 year old Grenaches. Having matured in stainless steel tanks, this wine is delicate, fruity and tense. Its vocation is to be refreshing and fresh, glass after glass... during a meal.
It underlines everything and yet takes second place with cold meats, tapas, red meat grilled or in sauces.
The FONTANILLES : a great classic
This cuvee is made of our 4 cepages, coming from soils dominated by Assignan sanstone, facing north and west.These small plots, surrounded by scrubland, pines, thyme, rosemary and cistus, comprising:
2.50 Ha of 20 year old Grenaches
1.60 Ha of 20 year old Syrahs
1.45 Ha of 45 year old Carignans
1.20 Ha of 40 year old Cinsaults
Each cepage is complete, and brings to the cuvee its own characteristices. One fruitness and freshness, another sweetness, another depth and length, the other distinction and energy. (I will let you guesswhich is which)
This is a Classic cuvée !!! Fulfilling and full of harmony, well-balanced. Matured in casks, Carignan and Syrah bring in a certain distinction.
The CIAUDE : the magnificent
Three cepages which complement each other to give us this wonderful cuvée. On this great terroir consisting of limestone and clay soils, facing south, the white blinding limestone of Agel gave us some wines full or great energy. These fine wines, which benefit from careful maturing in barrels, represent a cuvée superbly silky, combined with concentration and a mineral persistence full of finesse. It is the magical combination of a burning sun and cool soil, from where, deep within, the wine draws the water it needs. Early and steady maturity, lovely acidity...
A great Terroir consisting in:
1.30 HA of 25 year old Syrahs
0.80 Ha of 104 year old Carignans
0.50 Ha of42 year old Carignans
0.50 Ha of 8 year old Grenaches
The CARRETALS : a plot almost a century in the making
1.07 Ha of heritage, dating back 99 years.
Finesse, elegance, length, rigour and energy... a beatiful maturing deserving of these great qualities!
The wines are available at the Domaine Anne Gros in Vosne-Romanée. Should you wish to discover more deeply this wonderful terroir. It would be a pleasure for us to welcome you in our 3 gîtes in Minervois.
Have you made the arrangements for your next holiday (or week-end break) ?
Why not treat yourself to a short break in the Minervois region?
