1605 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702

KERMIT LYNCH WINE MERCHANT

Technical Information

Wine Blend Vine Age Soil Type Vineyard Area*
Languedoc Blanc
30% Marsanne, 30% Rolle, 25% Grenache Blanc, 15% Viognier/Roussanne 30 years Scree slopes, Clay, Limestone 6 ha for both white wines
Languedoc Blanc “Clos des Bénédictins”
45% Rolle, 45% Marsanne, 10% Roussanne 30 years Scree slopes, Clay, Limestone 6 ha for both white wines
Languedoc Pic Saint Loup Rosé
30% Mourvèdre, 30% Cinsault, 20% Grenache, 20% Syrah 20 years Scree slopes, Clay, Limestone 3 ha
Languedoc Pic Saint Loup Rouge
65% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre 40 years Scree slopes, Clay, Limestone 18 ha for the three red wines
Languedoc Pic Saint Loup Rouge “Cupa Numismae”
65% Syrah, 35% Mourvèdre 40 years Scree slopes, Clay, Limestone 18 ha for the three red wines
Pays d’Oc Rouge “Cuvée Les Vieilles Vignes de Mourvèdre”
70% Mourvèdre, 20% Syrah, 10% Grenache 50 - 60 years Scree slopes, Clay, Limestone 18 ha for the three red wines
* "ha" = hectares; one hectare equals roughly two and a half acres

VITICULTURE / VINIFICATION

Languedoc Blanc:
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts
• Fermented in stainless steel tanks (80%) and demi-muids (20%)
• Aged in cement tanks (80%) and demi-muids (20%) for 6 months
• No malolactic fermentation

Languedoc Pic Saint Loup Rosé:
• Rosé is made by 70% direct press, 30% saignée
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts
• Fermented in stainless steel tanks
• Aged in stainless steel tanks for 4 months
• No malolactic fermentation

Languedoc Pic Saint Loup Rouge:
• Hand harvested
• Completely de-stemmed
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts
• Fermented in cement tank
• Aged in cement tank for 1 year

Languedoc Pic Saint Loup Rouge “Cupa Numismae”:
• Hand harvested
• Partially de-stemmed
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts
• Fermented in cement tank
• Aged in barrel (15% new)
• Aged in bottle for 12 months

IGP Pays d’Oc Rouge “Cuvée Les Vieilles Vignes de Mourvèdre”:
• Hand harvested
• Completely de-stemmed
• Fermented with indigenous yeasts
• Fermented in cement tank
• Aged in demi-muids (2,3,4, and 5 years old) for 18 months
• Aged in bottle for 6 months

MISCELLANEA


A TRIBUTE TO JACK BOUTIN by Kermit Lynch



Jack replanted the slopes with noble varieties like Mourvèdre and Syrah and never let the craze for blockbusters influence him.  His was the Languedoc wine I found myself reaching for most often because I knew it would not assault my palate.  On the contrary, it pampered my palate.  I had a 1989 the other night with some winemakers and the wine was not only alive and well at twenty years old, it was also delicious drinking, generous and fine.  When he and his son had a relation-ending falling out, and then his doctors had trouble healing a leg injury that caused him more and more anguish, he made the decision to sell the château.  I tried to talk him out of it. He tried to talk me into buying it! I was tempted. I considered it a jewel in so many ways. Now Cyriaque Rozier, Jack’s second in command during the last few years, is doing a great job of continuing the adventure at La Roque that began back with the Romans, if not before.

General Information

Country
France
Region
Languedoc-Roussillon
Appellation(s)
A.O.C. Languedoc, A.O.C. Languedoc Pic Saint Loup
Producer
Sylviane and Bertrand Barascud
Founded
1259
Annual Production
10,800 cases
Farming
Organic (certified), Biodynamic (certified)
Website
http://www.chateau-laroque.fr
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