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Laroque - Cabernet Franc label
Laroque - Cabernet Franc bottle

Laroque - Cabernet Franc 2016

Red Wine

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Item# 1001-16R

Background

Laroque is made from historical vineyards e in the ancient region of Carcassonne that produce an extraordinary and unique wine made from 100% Cabernet Franc.
Laroque (from the latin roqua) derives its name from the Menhirs (a single standing stone that dates back to the middle of the Bronze Age like Stonehenge) which are found around Carcassonne. During the Middle Ages, the vineyards belonged to the Bishop of Carcassonne, who was renowned for making the best wines in the region. Local legend has it that the devil, upset with the Bishop of Carcassonne for stealing his “clients,” tried to stone the Bishop with giant rocks. Following the attack, the Bishop constructed the fortress of Cazilhac with these Menhirs and marked the event by placing a cross on the last remaining Menhir. After this, processions were undertaken around this oratory and all the parcels of vines that surrounded it, including those of Laroque, in order to ward off the devil.
The vineyards which produce Laroque have been making wine since the 6th century. Laroque Cabernet Franc is an easy-drinking wine that combines the structure, minerality, and dusty rose characteristics of Cabernet Franc with the lively, fruitiness of wines from the south of France. The Laroque vineyards are located nearby the city of Carcassonne, famous all over the world for its medieval city and the Canal du Midi, both classed as World Heritage sites by UNESCO.
Situated between the Pyrenees to the south and the Black Mountains to the north, Carcassonne enjoys a privileged climatic position where the excesses of the Mediterranean climate are tempered by the softness of the Atlantic. This results in sunny, hot, dry days, but very cool nights. This extraordinary harmony in nature creates wines that are fresh, fruity, elegant, rich and balanced.

Viticulture

The Cabernet Franc which blooms magnificently well around Carcassonne produces an exceptional wine that is delicate and elegant, but bursting with fruit and rich flavors.
Laroque Cabernet Franc is made from 100% Cabernet Franc.
- Clay and limestone soils.
- Terroir of Carcassonne is characterized by hillside vineyards with double climatic influences and two alternating winds:
- Winds from the Mediterranean bringing warm and humid softened by the “cers” winds coming from north-west of Narbonne.
- Dry and temperate winds from the Atlantic.
- Average age of vines is 25 years.
- Density of 4500 to 5000 vines/hectare.
- Environmentally friendly viticulture.
- Royat cordon system of pruning.
- High canopies for better quality grapes and yield management.
- Mechanical working of the soils with debudding to limit production.
- Night harvest on September 26 and 27 to maintain freshness and avoid the oxidation of the must.
- Yield of 60 Hl/hectare.

Winemaking

- After harvest, grapes are destemmed and then pressed gently in a pneumatic press.
- Fermentation in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks between 25 to 28°C for 19 days.
- Fermentation with fresh oak to enhance aromas and to give structure to the wine.
- Remontage (pumping over) 3 times daily until delestage (racking of the wines during fermentation to soften the tannins). Then 2 pumping-overs daily towards the end of the maceration period.
- Malolactic fermentation in epoxy lined concrete tanks.
- No fining.
- Filtering before bottling.