Empreinte Carbone Rouge 2021
In 2007 Jérôme Rateau bought the property with its two cellars, and twelve hectares of vines. He had initially planned a career in sport, but was forced to rethink following an injury. He also enjoyed science, particularly biology, and that led to a degree in oenology at Bordeaux.
His first job was to work for a large Bordeaux estate on the right bank, which produced 10,000 hl a year. There he learnt a lot, mainly what not to do, and then he worked as a consultant oenologist. Soon Jérôme realized that what he really wanted to do was to make his own wine. He wrote a business plan, enlisted support from his parents, and after a lot of looking, he eventually came to Faugères and bought Haut Lignières in time to help with the 2007 harvest.
He was taken by the terroir, the slopes of Faugères and the schist soil.
Hills at 350 m altitude. Broken schists.
Work is entirely done by hand, with the exception of carrying the harvested grapes to the cellar. All treatments are performed without using synthetic products. Creation of a flowery meadow for biodiversity and natural grassing.
Age of the vines : 46 years.
Yield : 25 hl/ha.
Destemming by hand with 100% sorting of the berries. 42 days of maceration.
Indigenous yeasts in open barrels, extraction by manual punching down. Runoff by gravity (no pressing). Malolactic fermentation in barrels.
Maturing : 22 months in oak vats, without addition of sulphites.
Bottling without fining or filtration.
Serve at 16 – 18°C.
Garnet red with bright violets
Nose: Complex, reminiscent of stewed fruit.
Palate: fruity, velvety and silky sensation, the tannins are supple and give elegance to this powerful wine.
This wine requires some decanting to express all its qualities and complexity.