In 2004, Pierre Fabre decided to fulfill his dream of producing quality wines in the Languedoc. He purchased the Château de Gaure, an estate just thirty minutes south of Carcassonne. It boasts 200 hectares of land and an 18th-century house at its center. The property dates back to prehistoric times and was once the site of an ancient oppidum—a large, fortified Iron Age settlement. Numerous relics have been found scattered throughout the estate. Pierre currently owns 20 hectares in Limoux (primarily Chardonnay, with Chenin Blanc, a little Mauzac, and new Pinot Noir plantings) and 30 hectares in Roussillon (primarily Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan), including Tautavel, Lastours, and Maury (in the Languedoc appellation). Total production is 60,000 bottles and growing.
The blend for this Languedoc Rouge AOP consists of 34 percent Carignan, 33 percent Syrah, and 33 percent Grenache. The grapes are hand-harvested in small boxes and then hand-sorted in the cellar before being destemmed and pressed. They are then fermented in concrete tanks with indigenous yeasts and aged for twelve months in barrels aged between three and ten years.
The result is certainly impressive. This Rouge Aop shimmers cherry red in the glass, and upon pouring, the delicious aromas of plums, cherries, currants, herbs, thyme, and a hint of vanilla are immediately released. The taste is ripe and smooth, elegant yet juicy. Its beautiful acidity and light tannins make it quite seductive. In short, a smooth red wine that pairs wonderfully with lamb roulade, pasta, or aged cheeses.
