2018 Clos de la Barthassade Les Gravettes
Guillaume and Hélène Baron only started with their first vintage in 2014, but have already begun to produce some incredible wines, made in a natural style with limited intervention.
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The Terrasses du Larzac AOC is part of the greater Languedoc winegrowing region, known for its sunny and hot Mediterranean climate, as well as the robustness of its red grapes: grenache, carignan, cinsault, syrah, and mourvedre. A large diurnal shift in the foothills brings cool nights, which allows for slow ripening, concentrating flavors. The Tramontana winds (cold and dry) from the north help to cool the grapes as well during the ripening period.
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Les Gravettes refers to the stone tools and other ornaments of a Paleolithic culture from the surrounding area, whose remnants are found in the soil. Rich and savory, this Les Gravettes drinks exceptionally well with merguez tagine, or duck cassoulet.
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Producer: Clos de la Barthassade
Name of Wine: Les Gravettes
Vintage: 2018
Region: Languedoc, France
Appellation: Terrasses du Larzac AOC
Varietal(s): 55% grenache / 30% cinsault / 15% syrah
Agriculture: organic & biodynamic
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Vineyard/Winery Location: Aniane, Hérault, Languedoc, France
Vineyard Name(s): La Barthassade / Les Combariolles / Bois de Paulhau
Soil Type(s): limestone scree
Altitude: ~120 m / ~400 ft
Trellis system: single Cordon & gobelet (bush vine)
Age of Vines: 30 years average
Graft Selection: massal
Harvest: hand harvested
Yield: 3500 kilograms per hectare
Yeasts: native yeasts
Maceration: 3 weeks / 65% pump-over, 35% punchdown
Alcoholic fermentation: spontaneous, 50%+ whole cluster (60% for grenache, 50% for syrah)
Malolactic fermentation: yes
Élevage: 17 months in demi-muid (600L), barrique (228L), & concrete egg
Fining/Filtration: no / no
Sulphur: none added during fermentation, minimal after / ~15 mg/L free
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure and bottle: natural cork, 750 ml, Burgundy bottle
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Service Temperature: 55-65 F
Drink: now to 2030
Decant: yes, or drink over 2-3 days
Pairing: soft cheeses / lamb tagine / merguez / duck cassoulet