A d'Aussières Cabernet Sauvignon - Syrah
The vintage
The 2024 vintage begins with a significant deficit in vine reserves. Growth is weak at the start of the season but picks up thanks to life-saving rains at the end of April. Phenological development is very heterogeneous, even within the same plots. In early May, a few millimeters of rain fall, June is warm, and growth is active. The summer of 2024 is not as hot and dry as 2023, which is good news for the vegetative development of the vines and the ripening of the grapes. The harvest of whites and rosés takes place at the end of August, and a 15-day wait is required before starting the red harvest in mid-September. The ripening process took its time, but once achieved, the quality of the grapes was excellent.
Location
The estate is nestled in the rugged hills just behind the Mediterranean coastline of Narbonne, in the South of France.
Terroir
The soil is very shallow and rocky on the slopes, and then becomes deeper and sandy in the flatter areas. Yields are kept intentionally low in order to conserve the vines’ strength and to produce high quality grapes. The grapes come from the property’s flattest, lowest areas, whose deep, well-drained soil under a layer of sandy silt provides optimal growth conditions for Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, giving a touch of Bordeaux elegance to this blend.
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
Beautiful ruby colour.
On the nose, notes of green pepper stand out, together with black fruit such as blackberry.
The palate is dominated by intense aromas of black cherry, confering roundness to the wine. The finish is smooth and fresh, recalling the characteristic aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, with delicate herbal notes of the garrigue.
