Commanderie de Saint-Pierre la Garrigue : Commanderie Saint-Pierre la Garrigue Rouge 2021

Tasting Notes and Characteristics of Commanderie Saint-Pierre la Garrigue Rouge 2021

Tasting

Appearance

The wine reveals an intense and deep ruby red colour.

Nose

Powerful, the nose opens with notes of red fruits including Burlat cherry and blackberry, accompanied by hints of peppermint that bring a Mediterranean aromatic dimension.

Palate

On the palate, this wine reveals remarkable tension and freshness. The aromas unfold and accompany silky tannins, finely melded into remarkable fruit. The whole offers a beautiful harmony between power and elegance.

Food and wine pairings

This gastronomic wine pairs perfectly with grilled meats and meats in sauce, hard cheeses, as well as desserts combining chocolate and fruit such as Black Forest cake.

Serving and cellaring

The Commanderie Saint-Pierre la Garrigue Rouge 2021 will benefit from being decanted before serving. It is ideally enjoyed at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. This wine can be cellared until around 2031.

The smoothness and vivacity of a Languedoc red wine

The estate

The Commanderie de Saint-Pierre la Garrigue traces its origins to the late 12th century, when the Hospitallers of Saint John of Jerusalem established this commandery. In 2005, Jehan De Woillemont, then twenty-three years old and representing the eighth generation of winegrowers in his family, acquired this abandoned property. After ten years of meticulous restoration of the vineyard, the estate now extends over forty-one hectares farmed organically since 2018. Located in Saint-Pierre-la-Mer in the Aude, the estate produces wines renowned for their freshness, minerality and remarkable tension.

The vineyard

The vineyard dedicated to this red wine is planted on the La Clape massif, at approximately forty metres above sea level facing the Mediterranean. The plots benefit from east and south exposures that promote optimal grape ripening. The soils consist of hard limestone, red clay and rocky debris characteristic of this former island that has become a massif. The vineyard is surrounded by Mediterranean garrigue with rosemary, thyme and maritime pines. The vines are trained in cordon de royat, a pruning system that limits yields to favour aromatic concentration. The harvest is carried out manually at maturity after tasting the berries according to grape variety.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage began with a winter marked by a frost episode of rare intensity affecting the entire French vineyard. A milder spring allowed flowering in late May. The months of June and July proved particularly rainy, followed by weather instability between mid-July and mid-August. Despite these contrasting conditions, the grapes reached fine maturity.

Vinification and ageing

After careful destemming, the Commanderie Saint-Pierre la Garrigue Rouge 2021 undergoes traditional maceration. During the last third of alcoholic fermentation, this Languedoc wine is transferred to French barrels of 225 and 500 litres where the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations are completed. Ageing continues for fourteen months in individually selected barrels before blending.

Grape varieties

Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Syrah.