Castelmaure : La Grande Cuvée 2008

Tasting characteristics and advice for La Grande Cuvée 2008 from Castelmaure

Tasting

Color

An intense ruby hue with violet highlights adorns this wine.

Nose

The nose is indulgent and expressive, revealing aromas of dark fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry) along with toasted and roasted notes. Peppery, lightly spicy nuances complete this complex bouquet, with subtle hints of vanilla and cocoa brought by barrel aging.

Palate

The attack is dense and generous. The palate shows lovely breadth, with dark-fruit flavors and a velvety texture. Fine, well-present tannins structure the whole without any harshness. The finish lingers with persistence, marked by a slight drying sensation that brings freshness.

Food and wine pairings

La Grande Cuvée 2008 pairs perfectly with grilled red meats such as a rib steak or duck breast. It also matches well with feathered game dishes and aged hard cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Serve La Grande Cuvée 2008 at a temperature between 14 and 16°C.

A generous, structured Corbières from the Languedoc

The estate

Founded in 1921 in Embres-et-Castelmaure, in the heart of Corbières in the Languedoc, the cooperative winery Castelmaure brings together around 60 winegrowers cultivating 440 hectares of family-owned vines. Dominated by old Carignan vines alongside Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre, the estate has been chaired since the 1990s by Patrick de Hoym de Marien, who led a qualitative shift with oenologist Bernard Pueyo. Castelmaure is notably distinguished by the invention of carbonic maceration on Carignan and, since 2019, by a conservatory of 79 ancient grape varieties.

The vineyard

The grapes for La Grande Cuvée come from selected plots within the Corbières appellation, evenly split between schist and limestone soils. This geological duality gives the wine both power and finesse. The vines, some of which are over 40 years old, are rooted in poor, stony terroirs at the foot of the Pyrenees, between garrigue and maquis. Yields are intentionally limited to 35 hectoliters per hectare to encourage aromatic concentration.

The vintage

The year 2008 benefited from favorable climatic conditions in the Languedoc, with generous sunshine and warm temperatures allowing optimal ripening of the grapes. These conditions favored the development of phenolic maturity and aromatic concentration, giving rise to balanced, complex wines.

Winemaking and aging

The harvest for La Grande Cuvée 2008 is carried out by hand. After destemming, the grapes are placed in a pneumatic press. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature of 25°C. The wine is then aged in 220-liter Bordeaux barrels for twelve months, with two successive rackings to refine the structure.

Grape varieties

Grenache noir (50%), Syrah (40%) and Carignan (10%).