Chateau Gautoul Cahors 2011
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Chateau Gautoul Cahors 2011 Chateau Gautoul is a twenty hectare estate in the heart of the Cahors region. The origins of the estate date back to the 17th century when an ancestor of the de Padirac family was raised to noble status and be- came the seigneur of Cahors. Today, Vicomte Aimery de Padirac is re- sponsible for the wine. The chateau is a magnificent 17th century char- treuse in perfect condition to this day. It has a commanding view of the village of Puy l’Eveque and the Lot River valley. The vineyard is planted to 80% Malbec, 16% Merlot and 4% Tannat. It faces due south and is cultivated according to the principle of sustaina- bility, known in French as culture raisonnée. The variety of 5 distinct soil types helps give Chateau Gautoul its unique character and ensures the perfect maturity of the fruit. Vineyard work is done throughout the year to ensure the highest quality wine. Strict pruning after harvest, green harvesting and leaf stripping are all carried out as conditions war- rant, to get the most out of each parcel and varietal. The goal is to attain concentration and complexity in the vineyard, and not through vinification and aging. The winery was modernized in 1992. The grapes are selected on a sorting table and then fermented in 160 Hectoliter tanks according to their sites of origin. The alcoholic fermentation period is about 3 weeks. The juice is pumped over the grape skins (remontage) twice daily. In addition, the cap is punched down (pigeage) twice to attain maximum extraction without harsh tannins. Once the wine has fully fermented, it is racked off its gross lees and malolactic fermentation takes place. No press wine is used in the final blend. The young vintage Technical Details is then transferred to oak casks (44% new, 46% one year old) where it 100% Malbec matures for 18 months. The cuvee was assembled and bottled in the summer of 2013 and then given 2 years of bottling aging before release. Location: Commune of Puy l’Eveque Chateau Gautoul 2011 is a deeply colored, generous wine with ripe Vineyard size: 20 hectares tannins and ample body. Spring was very dry and hot, reducing the crop Soils: 5 types: silt, clay, limestone, sand and stony size, and the vintage advanced rapidly. But a cooler July and August according to the respective parcel allowed the grapes to attain balanced maturity. The perfectly ripe Mal- Climate: Influenced by the Lot River as well as by bec was harvested under ideal conditions in mid to late September as the Atlantic and Mediterranean. each vineyard parcel ripened. The weather during harvet was sunny Average age of vines: 35 years and dry, and the fruit was in perfect health. Chateau Gautoul 2011’s Altitude: 100-140 meters accessible flavors of cassis, blackberry, truffles , dark chocolate and Vineyard practice: lutte raisonée spice make it a great expression of the unique and venerable Cahors Harvest dates: 17-27 September Yield: 40 Hectoliters per hectare appellation. Yeasts: indigenous Vinification: in stainless steel tanks for 3 weeks Malolactic fermentation: in tanks at the finish of the Top : the 17th century chateau and its vineyard, overlooking the Lot River.. alcoholic fermentation. At right: Malbec vines on stony, clay-limestone soil. Few bunches per vine Maturation: 100% in barrels for 18 months, 44% ensures ripening. new, 46% 1 year old Bottling: August 2013 Total Production : 3000 cases .