2020 Château de Pennautier "Esprit de Pennautier" Cabardès, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

ABOUT THIS WINE

Grapes for this wine come from the flanks of the sunny, rocky hillsides of the southern Montagne Noire, at an altitude of 300 meters. The soils are clay-limestone and stony. Alternating East-West climatic influences. Grapes are hand harvested and sorted. Fermentation and maceration last 25 days, followed by partial aging in new oak (60%) for 10-12 months. No fining or filtration prior to bottling. 

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Since 1620, Château de Pennautier is at the heart of the history of the Languedoc wines. 12 generations succeeded one another in producing exceptional wines. Nicolas de Lorgeril and his wife, Miren de Saint Chamas, have since 1987, grown beyond the Château de Pennautier, the historic family cradle. The Company now owns 6 estates, covering 250 hectares of vines. They represent the most beautiful terroirs of the Languedoc and Roussillon and include 8 Appellations d’Origines Contrôlées (Cabardès, Minervois, Minervois-la-Livinière, Saint-Chinian, Faugères, Côtes du Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, Languedoc). Respect for the terroir and the environment is fundamental to the Lorgeril family’s work, with estates run under organic and integrated farming methods and certified as High Environmental Value Level 3.

This particular Chateau is located at the heart of AOP Cabardès, a few kilometers from Carcassonne, which is an appellation marked by the alternation of west and east winds.  The vineyard climbs up the sunny and rocky hillsides of the south of the Montagne Noire, from 230 to 360 meters above sea level. Breathtaking views allow you to take in the beauty of the Pyrenees chain to the South, the Massif Central to the North and the famous city of Carcassonne located 5 kilometers away.

On this unique terroir, limestone and clay combine, Mediterranean warmth, Atlantic influence and mountain freshness, unique and rare characteristics of the AOP Cabardès, allowing the association of Atlantic (Malbec, Cabernet, Merlot) and Mediterranean (Grenache, Syrah) grape varieties. For 30 years, with patience, many areas of scrubland and rocks (abandoned for 1 century), have been regained on the Montagne Noire up to 360 meters above sea level.