Grape varieties :              syrah 84%
and cabernet
sauvignon 16%

GOLD MEDAL -  BERLINER WEIN TROPHY 2011             

Vintage :  The beginning of 2006 was very dry (winter and spring rainfall totalled 205mm), but we had good underground water reserves (there had been 430mm of rain between September and the end of December 2005). Flowering was quite late (on 12 May) but very quick (which is very rare in our region for Grenache grapes). "Veraison" (when the grapes start to change color and ripen) went well. Given the drought, we were wary about setting a date for grape-harvesting because we knew that drought could bring variations in ripeness. We thus checked our 200 grape samples three times by carrying out life-size samplings : we picked one 300 kg container of grapes per plot (on August : 11, 17 and 21). Grape-harvesting began on August the 24th at Château la Tour de l'Evêque with our faithfull spanish teams. The effects of the drought wee noticeable from the start : the grapes weighed much less than usual (25% less). But quality was all that we could have hoped for. We had learnt our lesson in 2004 so we harvested very quickly l we had finished by september the 9th at la tour before the rainy season.

Culture : Ploughing, no chemical weed killers, animal manure, copper and sulphur treatments.

Vinification : The grapes are picked and sorted by hand, according to their polyphenolic ripeness (depending on the evolution of the maturity, two to three analytical tests and berry tastings are carried out every week in order to determine the optimum harvest date). In the press room, the berries are destemmed, slightly treaded and transferred into stainless steel vats. the alcoholic fermentation is run so as to extract optimum fruit and colour, but also to produce an elegant wine. Maceration lasts about 10 days. Once the malolactic fermentation is over, the wines are stored into french oak casks for 14 months' maturation. Tow or three transfers are performed during the maturation. Then the wine is blended in vats and bottled in the Château.

Tasting : Our red wines will seduce you with their elegance and surprise you with their ageing ability ; notes of red fruits, with mellow tannins, long on the palate. They are a perfect match for all meats, cheeses and chocolate, and can be drunk just for pleasure. Best served between 16° an 18°.