Prieuré Saint Martin 2022
Corbières AOP
Château de Cabriac is situated on a series of east-west facing hills at the foot of the northern slopes of the Alaric mountain, in the Corbières massif. This location, in the shade of this massif, which tempers the aggressiveness of the Mediterranean summer and prevents heatstroke, is a very important quality asset.
This location was appreciated very early on. The Romans built a villa here. In 1215, the Knights Templar founded a priory dedicated to St Martin. During the French Revolution, Château de Cabriac was sold to the Berlioz family as property belonging to the clergy, whose last heir sold it to the de Cibeins family in 1945.
The estate covers 80 hectares of vines, 45 in Corbières and 35 in vins de pays.
The AOP Corbières reds are Grenache Noir 26%, Syrah 38%, Mourvèdre 14% and Carignan 19%, plus 3% Cinsault for the rosés. The Carignan vines are over 50 years old.
The whites are: rolle 40%, grenache blanc 47% and roussanne 13%.
The soils are sandstone and sandstone marl, always alkaline, slightly chalky, silty and clayey, which warm up quickly. Low in fertility and shallow to medium in depth, they allow the Mediterranean grape varieties to express their aromatic qualities.
Pruning is adapted to the grape variety: gobelet pruning for old vines, Royat pruning for younger plantations.
Organic fertilisation, “lutte raisonnée” disease control.
Average age of vines: 30 years. Yield: 30 hl/ha.
Vinification: Selection of “ends of plots”, small yields, full ripeness.
Harvested half by hand, half by machine.
Grape varieties are vinified separately. Complete destemming.
Cold pre-fermentation followed by partial pouring into barrels for the Syrah;
Traditional vinification for the Mourvèdre. Long maceration: 30 days.
Punching down and pumping over at the start of fermentation.
Ageing: Aged in barrels for 12 months, then bottled.
Drink at 18° C.
Depp, full, aromas of leather and black fruit.
Will benefit from decanting before service.
Drink 2024 – 2030.