Blanville - Reserve Cabernet 2018 (750ml)
Blanville Description
This Cabernet Sauvignon displays a clear, brilliant garnet color. The nose is expressive and elegant with aromas of ripe red fruit developing. The palate is velvety yet juicy, following through on the fruity flavors perceived on the nose, with an extended finish.
Grapes for the Réserve Cabernet Sauvignon were carefully selected from trusted neighboring growers with the addition of a parcel of estate fruit from a vineyard located just outside the Château. The trellised vines, which average 20 years old, reside on lower land near the Hérault River where the terroir is composed of fine clay, sand and silt. They are deep, filtering soils that encourage the rooting of vines and produce aromatic wines that combine good freshness and fruit flavors. The Mediterranean climate (dry and windy) is agreeable, enabling the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to reach perfect maturity.
After a cold, wet winter and a very rainy spring there were three weeks of rain in June which, on the positive side, recharged the water reserve but on the negative triggered a proliferation of mildew vine sickness. However, overall, the volume aligned with the average of a normal year taking into consideration those who were able to reach maximum yields and others who harvested less than usual. It was a challenging vintage in terms of volume, but quite a promising one for the quality of the grapes that weren’t impacted.
The winemaking process was traditional in order to focus on the varietal’s expression in its purest form. The grapes were harvested in the evening at perfect maturity late in the season—at the end of September. They were crushed and underwent a medium length maceration (two weeks) during the first fermentation at a regulated temperature. The second fermentation (malolactic) took place after the pressing. The wine spent the entirety of its time in stainless steel tanks in order to transparently show the best expression of a Sud de France Cabernet Sauvignon. A small amount of Syrah, which was aged two years in French oak barrels, was blended into the 2018 vintage to enhance the quality of the wine and strengthen its Mediterranean identity.
