Vintage 101 - The Arbousiers 2020

The history of this wine begins in the 20th century, in the legendary territory of Fontfroide. Located in the heart of the Corbières appellation, Cuvée 101 sublimates Carignan, the region's emblematic grape variety. Coming from a century-old plot cultivated for the first time in 1920 by Paule Bertrand, Cuvée 101 reveals the best potential of its terroir and the unique know-how of the Bertrand family.

Comments from Guillaume Barraud, Deputy Director of Estates:

This is the second vintage of this cuvée, mainly from a century-old Carignan plot between Cigalus and Villemajou. This wine, also complemented by the oldest plots of Grenache and Syrah from the Corbières terroir, expresses the will of these winegrowers who have preserved these old Carignan plots which, tamed by time and the tramontane, present an excellent balance of load / vigor and an expression of a unique grape variety in the world in its preferred terroir which is the heart of the Corbières. The obvious choice of manual harvesting, the harvest dates by a daily tasting of the grapes and finally the choice of carbonic maceration reveals all the aromatic diversity of these grapes with power and complexity. A wine for connoisseurs and lovers of the most beautiful terroirs of Languedoc.

Comments from Pierre-Alexis Menguel, Head Sommelier:

Between Cigalus and Château de Villemajou, these forgotten Carignan vines express the most beautiful expression of Corbières: nose of strawberry jam and liquorice, black pepper and peonies. On the palate the wine is marked by roundness and a very digestible, mouth-watering finish. 2020 is a vintage of balance and the delicacy of the fruit with great aging potential.

Appellation : AOP Corbières
Millésime : 2020
Format : 750ml
Cépage(s) : Carignan, Grenache noir
Degré d'alcool : 15.0
Sku : 821832

After a manual harvest at optimum maturity of the vines plots, the Carignan grapes are harvested in whole bunches, then accompanying the destemmed grapes for Grenache. Following maceration in whole grapes for Carignan and in a traditional way for the Grenache, the juices will undergo controlled fermentation between 26-27°C, with 10 to 15 days of vatting. Finally, the breeding in French oak barrels will be carried out for a duration of 18 months.

Deep purple color. The nose is endowed of a beautiful aromatic complexity combining black fruits, dried flowers and spicy notes. On the palate, the aromas of black fruits and spices fully express our terroir. This wine has a beautiful, rich and dense but with infinite softness. Aging in barrels for 18 months accompanies the wine and brings it complexity and length.

Keep away from sunlight and at a constant temperature

To be enjoyed at 16°C on a rack of lamb, grilled meat or dishes Mediterranean.