2013 Château de Lascaux, Languedoc France
60% Syrah 35% Grenache 5% Mourvèdre
Jean-Benoît Cavalier (the 13th Generation) took control of the property in 1984, after finishing a degree in Agricultural Engineering. In 1990, he consolidated the vineyards, restructured the ancient cellars, and created the official domaine, Château de Lascaux. Today the estate has expanded to 85 hectares of vineyards, surrounded by three-hundred hectares of forest, filled with green oaks, pines, and garrigue, so important in the overall terroir. This small pocket of land is a jewel in the sea that is the generic Languedoc. The proximity to both the sea and the mountains, makes this tiny microclimate unique to the region. This temperate zone brings a long, slow ripening of the grapes, adding to the wines’ complexity. The stony soil lends finesse and freshness to his wines, giving the reds greater aging potential than Syrah-based wines grown in other Languedoc soils. The proliferation of garrigue certainly is reflected in the aromatics, where notes of thyme, rosemary and mint are present in the wines.
Jean-Benoît is passionate about supporting the richness and diversity of this ecosystem, so the domaine’s conversion to organic viticulture was a logical choice.
This wine exudes both the ripe and savory qualities of the region. The Syrah brings a spicy component to the wine, offering notes of black pepper, coriander, and bramble. Then you get these lovely floral aromatics and flavours coming through onto a mid-weight palate; juicy black cherries with hints of dried black tea leaves, and black pepper. I love the complexity and tension in the wine. It is not a huge wine, but it has elegance and a mouthfeel I just love.