The origin gives this Merlot distinctly more tension than you might expect based on its name.
- Location / Origin: The vineyards are located on the first foothills of the Montagne Noire, 10 km north of Carcassonne, on the southern flank of the Pic de Nore. This places this wine in a cooler and higher part of Southern France than many other Pays d’Oc Merlots.
- Climate & Influences: The estate benefits from a transitional climate with Mediterranean and oceanic influences. This combination ensures that Merlot can ripen slowly here while retaining its freshness.
- Soil: On the estate, the plots for the IGP wines are located on cooler and deeper soils, while the importer's fiche for this cuvée also points to the steep slope of the Pic de Nore. This aligns well with a Merlot that combines suppleness with sufficient backbone.
- Landscape: The southern flank of the Montagne Noire is covered with garrigue and lies in a rugged, highly undulating environment. This makes the link with the name Nore immediately logical and gives the wine a distinctly southern context.
The cellar approach here is focused on fruit preservation, softness, and a round, accessible structure.
- Harvest & Selection: The grapes are machine-harvested very early in the morning, so that the coolness of the moment preserves as much aroma as possible. This helps to keep the fruit bright and fresh.
- Fermentation: After 2–3 days of cold pre-fermentative maceration, temperature-controlled fermentation follows, after which the wine is racked and pressed after 15–20 days. This method provides enough extraction for color and structure, without losing sight of Merlot's supple character.
- Aging / Wood aging: The wine is further stored in tanks. This keeps the style direct, fruit-driven, and soft, without the influence of wood.
Everything here revolves around one grape that shows a ripe but remarkably fresh side in this appellation.
- 100% Merlot – Pays d’Oc: Merlot forms the complete basis and gives the wine its dark color, soft structure, and full, round attack.
