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 The rhythm of spring... |
| The golden flowers of the juniper trees blossom under the April light. The garrigue perfumes the air with its aromas of wild rosemary and almonds. Nature is coming to life again around us as we enter the spring. In the vineyards, the pruning season is hardly finished when the buds begin to burst. Hard to imagine the recent period of intense cold, with temperatures of -12°C and an 80 km/h wind, when it was almost impossible to venture outside! With the return of the warmer days, the grass starts to grow again quickly, too quickly sometimes, and so we have started to clear the area between the vines. This is done mechanically with a plough which circulates around the base of the vines, precision work which requires huge concentration, application and finesse from the tractor-driver. This is a wonderful period to work the soil as it aerates, warms up, and comes to life again. The life of the soil is reactivated little by little from the moment that the vines start to produce buds. We aim to manage the grass in order to maintain the life-giving properties of the soil so that the vine is provided with all the nutrients it needs from the moment the buds begin to break. This new spring will bring its own new challenges for us as we cultivate the grapes that will become wines from the Chateau de Caraguilhes. |
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| The abundant harvest of the mediterranean landscape |
| For the third year running, our soil has been supplied with a superb source of activation by the compost and manure we have spread, as well as by the flock of sheep which roams the vineyards during the winter. This gives a perfect combination of professional management of grass cover between the rows of vines, and of natural animal fertilization. The sheep, joined this year by a small herd of goats roam between the garrigue, the natural landscape of the Languedoc, full of herbs and Mediterranean shrubs and trees, and the vineyards, until the end of March when the first leaves start to bud on the vines. At Caraguilhes, the olives, of prime importance in the traditional Mediterranean landscape, start to flourish again at this time of year. We have made space among the new plantings of Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre and Cinsault for several olive trees of the species Olivière, which is native to the Corbières and whose olives produce a mild oil renowned for its aromatic qualities and golden colour. It won’t be long before we will be able to offer you our own olive oil made on the domaine… |
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| The new releases from Chateau de Caraguilhes |
| We are very proud to announce that the Solus 2010 has just been awarded the prestigious number two spot by the magazine Terre de Vins/Bettane et Desseuve in their tasting of organic wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon. The 2011 vintages are already available for the Classique and Olivette range. These wines continue to maintain their very Mediterranean structure with the characteristics so typical of our terroir here at Caraguilhes: fresh, concentrated fruit. The first tastings at Millésime Bio and Vinisud have been very encouraging with very positive feedback, with the tank sample of the rosé receiving a Silver Medal at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris. The team at Caraguilhes is delighted to announce that these wines are available now for you to enjoy with meals, with family, with friends, for you to savour and enjoy. |
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