France – Castel de Brames Cuvée des Origines 2013

Domaine and vineyard

The Domaine Castel de Brames is located in the small village of Brames-Aigues, in the South West of France, is the country yard between Toulouse and Albi. We are in one of the most ancient terroir of the AOC Gaillac, exactly on the third slope of the left side of Tarn river.

Terrain here is made of sediments deposed all along the centuries by the river, with sporadic presence of clay or stones.

The hill slope is sometimes very marked and all the vineyards are exposed to South-West. In few words, the perfect mix to give to Gaillac wines the right amount of sun and quality.

The domaine produces grapes over its 30 hectares of property, 20 of them are dedicated to red grapes, with a mix of international and autochthone grapes. In the remaining 10 hectars are cultivated white grapes, following the same principle of mixing international with autochthone. At the head of this business, since 1969, the couple composed of Camille Bauguil and Alain Boullenger, who, from 2007, decided to perform a little internal revolution by eliminating all machinery in the cave to re-discover the ancestral way to produce wine: horizontal tanks, feet to pressure and mix the grapes, in the ultimate aim to recover, in a modern way, the old aromas and flavors the industrial production was erasing.

No organic anyway but a “reasoned” conduction of the vineyard, with no chemical substances, controlling herbs and density of leaves on the vines.

The wine

Castel de Brames Cuvée des Origines 2013 is a blend of Syrah (05%), Duras (40%), Brocol (40%) and Prunelart (15%). The vines are average 28-30 years old and are trained in Cordon de Royat system with an average yield of 30 hl/ha.

The vineyards from where this wine comes from are located on the left side of the Tarn, on soils made of sand, limestone and clay. Grapes are harvested using machineries. The pressured grapes undergo the fermentation process in horizontal tanks at controlled temperature for 10 days with daily remixes of juice and lees realized using feet.

Tasting Note

Date	22 October 2016
Wine name	CUVEE ORIGINES	Vintage	2013
Nation	France	Region	Languedoc
AOC-DOC	Gaillac	Grape Varieties	05 % Syrah 40% Duras 40% Brocol 15% Prunelart
Serving temperature	16-18° C	Alcohol	13,5
Price (in euro)	6	SO2 (in mg/l)	Nd

Visual Examination		Taste analysis
Limpidity	Limpid	Body	Full
Color	Purple Red	Balance	Balanced
Consistency	Quite consistent	Soft sensations	Quite Soft, Quite Warm
Effervescence	//	Hard sensations	Quite Tannic
		Flavors intensity	Quite Intense
Olfactory analysis		Flavours	Red mature fruits
Aroma intensity	Quite Intense
Complexity	Quite Complex	Finish/Persistence	Scarcely Persistent
Quality	Quite Fine	Overall evaluations
Aromas	Red mature fruits, Spices	Development	Ready
		Harmony	Harmonious

Food and wine pairing

The wine matches perfectly with red grilled meats or mild matured cheese.

In this wine we find a blend of the three grape varieties typical of the Gaillac region. The wine is perfect match for an honest meal, well able to accompany a good Sunday lunch. The color is ruby. Scents and aromas are ripe red fruits with a slight hint of sweetness that softens the tannins well. Good!

Official website: www.castel-de-brames.com