La Folie Saint Auriol Merlot
IGP Pays d'Oc
The grapes are vinified in our style, for a typical Corbières. The profile of these single-variety wines is thus quite concentrated, the tannins being on the ample side, and the mouth full. The Chardonnay is enriched with some oaking, and the fullness of the Merlot results from frequent pumping-over during winemaking. The name Saint Auriol appeared in the 19th century with the construction on the property of a chapel dedicated to this saint. The Occitan name is "Fontauriol" (Fountain of Gold) - gold and iron being present in the area.
Merlot
16°C
The vineyards border the Mediterranean shoreline, in the area around Béziers. They enjoy a Mediterranean climate which promotes development of aroma in the grapes during ripening, producing a varied range of wine profiles. The selected plots are located on soils strewn with pebbles which radiate heat back over night, producing beautifully ripe and very concentrated wines.
The vines are trained on wires and are harvested by machine or by hand for some of the rigorously selected plots. They are cropped at 70 hl/ha.
Harvesting is done by machine or by hand based on strict vineyard selection which takes into account the ripeness levels of each plot. The fruit is entirely destemmed before fermentation. The wines are fermented in traditional tanks with particular attention paid to fermentation temperatures and pumping over in order to produce fine tannins and good fruitiness. Some of the juice is fermented with French oak staves.
The perfect companion for smocked cold meats, roast and grilled meats, vegetables en gratin and mild cheeses.
Deeply coloured with purple-blue tints. The nose is profound and intense, showing notes of black fruits, sweet spices and liquorice. The palate is full-bodied and intense with notes of blackberries, candied liquorice and cinnamon. Stands well on its own and can be enjoyed whilst reading a good book or with friends. Drink preferably over the first year after bottling but it will mature well for 3 to 4 years.
