Castelmaure : La Grande Cuvée 2015

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for La Grande Cuvée 2015 by Castelmaure

Tasting Notes

Appearance
The colour reveals a deep, dense red, enhanced by delicate purple hues.

Nose
Powerful and expressive, the aromatic bouquet opens with notes of ripe dark berries such as blackcurrant and prune. It then develops toasted and roasted nuances, evoking coffee and cocoa, complemented by subtle touches of caramel and vanilla.

Palate
The attack reveals a full and dense texture. The palate stands out for its controlled power and silky texture, supported by perfectly rounded tannins. The whole unfolds with elegance towards a remarkably long finish.

Food and Wine Pairing

This full-bodied red wine pairs perfectly with flavourful meats such as prime rib, duck breast grilled with green pepper, or game dishes such as flambéed woodcock. It also pairs wonderfully with slightly caramelised sauced dishes.

Serving and Cellaring

For an optimal tasting experience, La Grande Cuvée 2015 is best served at a temperature of around 16°C. Simple aeration in the glass or light decanting is sufficient, with no need for prior decanting.

The Power and Complexity of a Corbières Red Wine

The Estate

Officially founded in 1921 in the heart of Languedoc, the Castelmaure cooperative winery is located in the village of Embres-et-Castelmaure. Born from the winegrowers' desire for independence in the face of wine industry crises, it quickly established itself as a benchmark for quality, beginning estate bottling as early as 1967. Now headed by Marc Labatut, the cooperative brings together around sixty passionate winegrowers. A true backbone of its village, Castelmaure stands out for its boldness, its prestige cuvées, and its deep commitment to the authentic expression of its terroir.

The Vineyard

Located in the Hautes Corbières, on the Durban terroir, the vineyard benefits from a pristine environment amid the Mediterranean garrigue. The vines dedicated to this cuvée thrive on a geological mosaic composed of half schist and half limestone, offering both richness and freshness. Managed according to the principles of sustainable farming, with controlled yields, the plots receive meticulous care. The grapes are harvested exclusively by hand, using secateurs, and transported in small crates to preserve the integrity of the bunches.

Winemaking and Ageing

Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes destined for La Grande Cuvée 2015 are destemmed before undergoing pneumatic pressing. Fermentation takes place in tanks with rigorous temperature control around 25°C. A maceration period of around fifteen days is accompanied by regular pump-overs and rack-and-return to gently extract the wine's structure. After two rackings, the wine undergoes careful ageing for ten to twelve months in French oak Bordeaux barrels, around 25% of which are new, before light fining and moderate filtration.

Grape Varieties

This wine is a blend of Syrah and Grenache.