AOC SAINT-CHINIAN-BERLOU

To introduce Southern France’s remarkable crus & terroirs with a focus on old vines grown at high altitudes.

The Berlou vineyards are nestled among the last foothills of the Cévennes, in the narrowest strip of the Mediterranean slope, on 230 hectares of vines. The Palaeozoic soil is composed of rare, early Ordovician sandstone schist outcrops, made up of characteristic micaceous and schistous sandstone patches. Relatively dark in colour, they accumulate the heat of the sun during the day and transfer it to the soil at night. This terroir stands out for its incredibly expressive aromas and flavours along with a mineral edge due to the schistous soil.

The plots are harvested when the grapes are at their peak of ripeness and vinified separately:
- Carignan: The grapes are handpicked and undergo carbonic maceration for finesse and minerality followed by long fermentation at moderate temperatures for freshness.
- Syrah: The grapes are handpicked and some undergo carbonic maceration while the others are entirely destemmed before undergoing cold pre-fermentation maceration followed by lengthy vatting with gentle extractions and warm post-fermentation maceration.
- Mourvèdre: the grapes are completely destemmed and under go lengthy vatting with gentle extractions and warm post-fermentation maceration.

Aged 50% in barrels and casks for 12 months to lend complexity; 50% in concrete tanks on fine lees for 12 months to develop structure along with fruity, spicy aromas and flavours.

The plots that we have selected are therefore chosen for this very uniqueness:
- Carignan grown in Ordovician schistous soil for fine aromas and flavours as well as minerality (50% of the blend).
- Syrah and Mourvèdre grown in Ordovician schistous soil for power and complexity (25% of the blend for each varietal).

This deep red-hued wine offers a fine yet intense, complex nose of cocoa, bay leaf, tapenade and black pepper. It is rich and smooth on the palate, boasting pure, complex flavours of black fruit and mild spices along with a lovely long velvety finish.