Product Description
Minervois is one of the jewels in the Languedoc's crown, an appellation only created in 1985 but which has, since then, made huge strides in quality. The region lies in the northwestern corner of the Languedoc, perched in the hills between Narbonne and the medieval, fortified town of Carcassonne. To the south, just over the banks of the river Aude, lies Corbieres, another appellation much in demand. La Chapelle de Calamiac is a special parcel of declassified 'La Liviniere' Minervois (hence the 'Oc' labelling) - the best and the first 'cru' to be officially recognised in the Minervois. Anthony Rose of The Independent wrote "La Liviniere has become one of the top appellations in the south of France and deservedly so." All the grapes for La Chapelle are taken from vines that are at least 65 years old; some yield as little as 15 hectolitres per hectare. Winemaker at this top Minervois estate is Benoit Blanchon who has had considerable experience in the grand chateaux of Bordeaux, as well as making 92 point wines at Chateauneuf-du-Pape's famous Clos de l'Oratoire. The wine is a tremendously rich and powerful combination of 85% dark, brooding Syrah with a 15% splash of Merlot to fill out the wine with creamy plum flavour. Six months in French and American oak barriques has given the wine a rich layer of toasty oak complexity. The wine takes its name from the chapel among its vines that was built after World War Two.
