Les Hauts Castelmaure Corbières 2018
Corbières is the leading appellation of the Languedoc-Roussillon region in south west France. The region is famous for their powerful red blends and this is a very classy example of their place. Castlemaure is a winery named after a town in which an army of 150 residents take care of hundred of plots, which go into the creation of their wines. ‘Les Hautes’ is one of their two top wines, from the best barrels, of the best sites.
Profile
The wine has a deep dark colour and dense cassis, forest floor and shaved graphite on the nose. The palate starts very elegantly and then boom - fruit and power. Dark berries and potpurri with super-fine and abundant tannin. There’s a hint of beef stock on the back palate with all that chalky tannin and black tea on the finish - lots going on. This is a long and powerful wine, with so many flavours and nuances to discover.
Reviews
Decanter Magazine
“Embres-et-Castelmaure is a tiny village in Corbières with about 150 residents, all of whom are grape-growing families and many are members of the local cooperative, which produces this wine. Collectively they own 350ha of vineyards divided into 760 separately managed plots of vines aged up to 80 years. The grapes for Les Hauts de Castelmaure are hand-harvested and vinified using ultra-modern equipment. The Carignan goes through carbonic maceration to best display the fruit characters before being blended with Syrah and Grenache and transferred into one-, two- and three-year-old barrels to be matured for 10-12 months. Justin Howard-Sneyd MW: Big, ripe nose showing deep sweet kirsch and strawberry jam notes. Some oak vanilla too, and the sweet oak supports some tasty, ripe fruit aromas showing great concentration of ripe fruit. Nice spice on the finish. Andrew Jefford: Refined and compelling aromas of black fruits, fine leather, soft spice and herbal freshness. Concentrated and deep, with a real Languedoc nobility. The tannins are not prolific but well-managed, supple and supportive. Classy, drinkable, very much of its place. Frederic Marti: Yummy! Rich and powerful with a great finish, a touch warming though.”
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Specs
- Region
- Corbières
- Vintage
- 2018
- Cellaring
- 2028
- Preservatives
- Sulphites
- Alcohol by Vol.
- 14.5%
- Closure
- Cork
- Bottle Vol
- 750mL
- Blend Info
- 40% Grenache 40% Syrah 20% Carignan
- Serving Temp.
- 16.0°C
Tasting
From the producer
Red fruit on the nose, with distinct hints of wild garrigue plants and spice. A silky wine, warm with good length. Delicate hints of fruit , with a touch of vanilla and melted tannins.
Winemaking
Viticulture
Selected from 25-80 year old land parcels
Crafting
Carbonic maceration, matured for 11 months in oak casks used for 1, 2 & 3 wines.