Château Cesseras, Minervois-La Livinière, Languedoc
The Château Cesseras is located in Languedoc, south of France, Minervois-La Livinière appellation.
The vineyard is the property of the Ournac family; I contacted Mr Pierre André Ournac and I’m now really glad to share what I know about this vineyard. Take 2 minutes to read this, it’s really interesting!
Interview:
“I’m working for the familial farm of 160 acres in Cesseras, with my brother since 1985. We’re the seventh generation of the family since 1840 to run the exploitation.
Since I arrived, we totally restructured the vineyard adapting varietals to different kinds of soil. In the “appellation” area (AOC), we planted Syrah, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre (In France and Portugal term used for wines whose characteristics and name derive from the location where the vines from which they come are grown. Their quality is guaranteed by special Government regulations controlling their production. In other countries the term is used for wine having particular qualities which derive from the place and methods of production). We’ve conserved an old Carignan, turned to wine by carbonic maceration. In the “Vin de Pays” areas, we planted white varietals as Viognier, Chardonnay, Marsanne and Muscat. Also, we have red varietals as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Marselan (Cabernet + Grenache). We just implanted a new varietal: the “San Giovese”, from Toscany producing the famous Chianti.
We just equipped the cellar by high performance materials as: high volume pneumatic press (Apparatus used to extract juice from grapes or marc by pressure), stemmer (Machine for separating the stems from the grapes or crushed grapes), Hot & Cold generator for the control of fermentation temperature, with tubular refrigerators (Device used for cooling must or wine and consisting of a series of tubes in which the cooling liquid is circulated), Soil filter, inoxable metal and concrete fermentation cellar (The part of a winery in which the fermenters are located and the fermentation is carried out).
We have our own machine to harvest grapes, which means that we reap each varietal at its best maturity.”
Ageing:
The Syrah 2003 is a blend of Syrah (70%) and Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan (30%). These three last varietals are turned to wine by carbonic maceration (1° prolonged contact of the must with the solid parts of the grapes. 2° crushing or disintegration of grapes by mechanical means). 60% of this blend grows up is woody cask during 14 months.
Scoring:
Ø The Syrah 2003 has won the gold medal at the 2006 International “Vinalies” challenge. The 2004 vintage won the gold medal at the same competition in 2007.
Ø They just bottled in the 2005 vintage, and it’s going to be in the “Best wines of France” book, coming out in September 2007.
Ø Concerning previous vintages, the 2001 has been honored by 5 stars by the Decanter Magazine, and won a Languedoc wine tasting competition…The second one was the Château Massamier, La Mignarde (2000), elected best wine of the world later… Amazing, isn’t it?
Ø They work since 1995 with the so famous Londoner Berry Bros & Rudd Company and also with the so famous restaurant “The IVY”…
>>> See details about The Syrah 2003 (tasting notes, etc)...
>>> See more about La Livinière.
>>> See more about Languedoc.
