Domaine Laroque Cite de Carcassonne Pinot Noir 2017
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James
Suckling
Product Details
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Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Earth and fruit aromas with a fruity sweetness and dried spices on the nose. The mouth is charming, juicy and straightforward. Medium tannins linger on the finish along-side a hint of roasted cocoa nib. An excellent option for those who enjoy a more gentle and approachable style.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
The purity of fruit in this friendly pinot noir shows light cherries, blueberries and sweet hazelnuts. Medium body, firm and structured tannins and a vivid, bright finish.
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The Laroque vineyard is planted around the ancient region of Carcassonne, which is known for its famous medieval citadel (UNESCO listed). Laroque (from latin ‘roqua’) derives its name from the Menhirs (a single standing stone that dates back to the middle of the Bronze Age) which used to be found in the vineyards of Carsac and Limoux.
Located between the Pyrenees and the Black Mountains, Carcassonne enjoys a privileged climatic position where the excesses of the Mediterranean climate are tempered by the softness of the Atlantic climate. This results in sunny, hot, and dry days, but also in cool nights. This extraordinary harmony in nature creates wines that are fresh, elegant, and balanced.
The hillside vineyards have a double climatic influence with two alternating winds. One comes from the Mediterranean Sea bringing warmth and humidity and is softened by the “Cers” wind coming from the North West of Narbonne. The other one comes from Atlantic Ocean which is dry and temperate.
The vineyard is located around the villages of Carsac and Limoux. The average age of the vines is 25 years with a density of 4500 to 5000 vines/hectare. Grapes are picked up in September and fermented in temperature controlled tanks for 20 days. Wine is pumped over 3 times daily until the end of fermentation. It is then aged for few months and is bottled early Spring .
The property makes Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a limited release Rosé.
Pinot Noir is grown in many French regions but the greatest concentration is in the Champagne region. Here it is a key component, along with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, in the region’s famous sparkling wines, simply called, Champagne. On the eastern border with Germany, in Alsace, winemakers utilize it for both still and Sparkling Wines. In the Loire Valley it is used for red and rosé wines, namely in Sancerre. The Jura and Savoie also produce Pinot Noir, and small amounts are grown in higher altitude sections of southern France.
But the pinnacle of French Pinot Noir is unquestionably Burgundy, called Bourgogne locally. All top Burgundy reds are 100% Pinot Noir, with the finest—the Grand Crus—considered among the world’s most prestigious wines. The first recorded mentions of Pinot Noir in Burgundy date to the 14th century, though viticulture has been in the region for well over 2,000 years. For centuries Bourgogne was controlled by monastic orders that not only worked the vineyards but took meticulous notes about the wines that resulted from individual parcels. This detailed record-keeping led to the recognition that wines vary depending on the source of the grapes—even if made by the same person in the same way—and that certain sites consistently tend to produce superior wines.
These observations ultimately led to the designation of 33 Grands Crus (and over 600 Premiers Crus) vineyards. Most of these are in the small sloping area known as the Cote de Nuits, widely thought to be the ancestral and spiritual home of Pinot Noir. Bourgogne could also be said to epitomize the French concept of terroir—the combined sum of all-natural factors that affect a specific vineyard or parcel (called a climat). The notion of terroir lends itself perfectly to Pinot Noir, a thin-skinned grape that is highly reactive to its environment. When produced from exceptional sites, especially in fine vintages, the grape can lead to wines that are complex and sensual, with a subtlety and depth of flavor that make them both hedonistic and thought-provoking.