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| CABARDES As president of the Comité Interprofessionnel de Cabardès, Claude Carayol succeeded in creating this appellation in 1999, even though wine has been made here since the Romans. Situated in Languedoc just north of Carcassonne on the southern flank of the Montagne Noire, which separates Languedoc from the Massif Central , Cabardès is unique in that the transitional character of its geography and range of its grape varietals (with plots of Cabernet Sauvignon alongside Grenache) permit the winemaker to favor either a Mediterranean or an Atlantic ( Aquitaine ) style. Claude Carayol's family has been growing grapes in this region for many generations though winemaking is a more recent venture. Claude owns 150 hectares of land up in the hills with just about 20 hectares under vine in the most crazy patchwork of small parcels. You drive over rocky terrain of scrub-oak from one parcel of vines to the other, each vineyard fitting comfortably into its contour in the plateau. This scrub-oak is where the word “garrigue” derives (“gar” being the word for oak) and up in these hills you see the first signs of the typical Mediterranean terroir including wild herbs like thyme and rosemary. Carayol has the highest vineyards in Cabardes, about 300 meters, and the soils are almost pure broken rock, filled with fossilized sea creatures from 90 million years ago. These high elevation vineyards allow him to harvest much later than his down-the-hill neighbors so he picks in mid to late October, giving him a very long growing season. |
| Domaine de Cabrol Website |
| Cabardès Cuvée Vent d’Ouest |
| The cuvée Vent d’Ouest is made in the more “Atlantic” style, with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Grenache and 20% Syrah.
Grown on clay-limestone sub-soil with a southern exposure at an altitude of 300 meters, the grapes, cultivated according to the principles of “culture raisonnée,” are harvested manually in October.
Carayol seeks a pure, rich expression of fruit in this cuvée. Fermentation follows a 30 day maceration ( carbonic for the Syrah ), with vinification and élévage in stainless steel tanks. The wine is clarified but unfiltered, with minimum sulphites at the bottling. A nose of laurel leads to a mouthful of cassis and spice and finishes with the herbal freshness of rosemary. Try this full-bodied wine with grilled meats and recipes calling for Provencal seasoning. |
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| Cabardes Cuvee Vent d'Est 2006 |
| 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 10% Cabernet. Suave texture, incredible aromas of wild berries, then black olives, cinnamon, black pepper and a hint of violet as it keeps evolving in the glass. Long and complex finish. |
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