2017 Chateau Pré la Lande Cuvee Terra Cotta Amphora BIO

Château Pré la Lande is located in the Appellation AOC Sainte-Foy Bordeaux. The wines they produce are certified organic, Demeter and vegan and in addition to an organic conventional wine they also make a very nice red wine which is completely on terracotta amphorae of 450 l from Tuscany. is matured. The 22 hectare site, including 14 hectares of vineyards in one piece, is situated on the slopes of a hill overlooking the Dordogne valley. Organic farming since 2007. Biodynamic methods of wine treatment since 2012.

The Château Pré la Lande has been producing a wine since 1860 from the slope of a hill at 120 meters, one of the peaks in Gironde. The natural slopes guarantee good drainage and the proximity of the Dordogne river a mild climate. The designation Sainte-Foy Bordeaux, renamed Sainte-Foy Côtes de Bordeaux in 2016, is one of the oldest in Gironde with a decree published in 1937. The soil of Château Pré la Lande is only a thin layer of clay with limestone underneath, sometimes visible on the surface, guaranteeing a wine that combines elegance with a strong character.

All wines are bottled with no or very little filtering. The absolute minimum of sulphite is added to guarantee the stability of wine. The total amount of SO2 is even considerably lower than the permitted amounts for organic wines. The bottles are always sealed with non-chlorine corks and the bottle supplier commits to use 95% recycled glass. The cardboard supplier for the boxes takes an ecological approach by using 75% recycled paper and biodegradable inks.

Cuvée Terra Cotta is a blend of 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc from a vineyard located on a limestone subsoil with an average age of 42 years. The yield is deliberately kept very low and is only 28 hl / hectare which is only a fraction of what is allowed, but at Château Pré la Lande they choose aggressive pruning so that the few grape bunches get the best of the terroir. Harvesting is done by hand with a first selection in the vineyard by our own (experienced) pickers.

After the harvest and arrival in the winery of the Chateau, a cold pre-fermentation is started. The alcoholic fermentation takes place in thermoregulated vats. This takes about 5 weeks so this process gets plenty of time. The wines are then aged for 15 months in terracotta amphorae (amphora barrels) of 450 l from Tuscany.
The wine is further lightly filtered using proteins from peas, not from eggs (VEGAN).

The aging in terracotta containers allows moderate oxidation as in oak barrels, but thanks to its neutrality, terracotta does not bring a specific taste to the wine. The unique aroma of grapes is revealed and, unlike the aging in stainless steel tanks, this type of aging allows the tannins to become rounder and the aromatic palette more complex.

In the glass, the Cuvée Terra Cotta from Château Pré la Lande is fresh red to dark red. The wine comes shyly in the glass but after some countering there is an explosion of black and red fruit. We smell raspberry, blackberry, black currant, hint of espresso and also herbs such as thyme and rosemary. In the mouth, the wine is voluptuous with a large juicy frame with silky tannins. The wine has a clear character but without any aggressiveness. In the mouth we taste some cherry tones and the mineral touch is also noticeable. The terra cotta aging makes the wine soft and velvety without overpowering heavy tannins and makes the wine more accessible. Ready to drink now, but this wine can be kept in the cellar for at least 10 years.