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A
spectrum of colours, from white to ruby...
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The 'Appellation Clairette du Languedoc' wines, from
the vines grown on the schistous soil of Cabrières,
are incredibly varied in taste. They have won prizes
in competition and praise from the gastronomic press.
These white wines are from some of our oldest 'Clairette'
vineyards, brought back to life by our wine-growers,
assisted by the natural qualities of this very seductive
grape. The 'Clairettes' of Cabrières have a light,
transparent, slightly golden robe, with aromas of aniseed,
fennel, and occasionally grapefruit. They are fine and
elegant, with a taste which remains long in the mouth
thanks to their rounded character. These smooth wines
have an agreeable, slightly bitter, citrousy aftertaste,
which brings out their full savour. |
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We call our rosé wines 'le vin vermeil' (vermilion
wine). They have a cherry-coloured robe, and are either
light or slightly sweeter depending on the wine. A hint
of rose petals in sunlight ! A delicate, slightly heady
nose, discrete and tantalising; an infinite blend of
flowers and fruits, perfumes developed on our schists.
The history of Cabrières is entwined with the
history of the 'vin vermeil', one of the first rosés
produced in France. A King's Rosé.
The King's Accolade
The story goes that, one day in May 1687, the Prior
of Cabrières, the Abbé Fulcrand Cabanon,
left his small country parish to venture to Versailles...His
Majesty, the Sun King, heard tell that a certain cleric
from the south had brought with him a wine with amazing
therapeutic properties - this was the 'vin vermeil de
l'Estabel'.
Thus the King straightway ordered the Prior, creator
of a wine of repute with excellent aroma and a vermilion
robe, to present himself before the Court. Such was
its reputation that the wine named Estabel was given
its supreme accolade, an 'Appellation Contrôlée'
from the King.
The Royal paradox
So it was that this rosé wine, a remedy for all
ills and a tonic for the Courtiers and townspeople,
was promptly adopted by one of the greatest Kings of
France. The Sun King asked the Prior to reveal the secret
of his liquor. The Prior agreed, on condition that the
King keep the secret till his death. The King promised
and, in his daily preparations, would often refresh
himself with a glass or two...
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The red wines of Cabrières have a pronounced
dark appearance - a palette of red pigments, from bright
ruby to cherry black, from purple to dark violet. The
younger wines have an aroma of raspberry, strawberry,
blackcurrant, laburnum and peony. The bouquet becomes
more smokey and spicy with ageing, the early hints of
red fruit are overlaid by the mature aromas of the torrefaction.