Le Mouton Larzac

2023

Available for pre-sale for the 2025 season

Le Mouton larzac

le brusq - france

Firmly anchored in the mountainous reliefs of Larzac and gently refreshed by the marine influences of the Mediterranean, this wine is crafted from a blend of old Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah vines. It is thoughtfully conceived here at Brusq, in the hinterland of Montpellier. The vineyard benefits from the influence of the garrigue and a warm, windy climate, ideal for the long maturation of the red varieties from Larzac. Handcrafted using unique winemaking techniques passed down through three centuries of dedicated cultivation, it blends creative inspiration with rigorous oenological standards.

From this segment of time was born the Mouton Larzac, whose vintages average only 250 cases per year.

The 2023 vintage is part of the collection of fine vintages from Mara Wine. The year was characterised by extreme climatic events: low rainfall in spring and a heatwave in July. The exceptional summer and Indian summer allowed for remarkable ripening, resulting in a dazzling wine.

PARTICULARITIES

Ripeness of the grapes and yield
Yield: 20 hL/ha

Temperatures and precipitations

The first three months of the year are drier than normal. April and June are wet, while May is dry and mild. July, August and September are dry, with record temperatures in July, when the temperatures get really hot. September, dry and mild, ensures a perfect end of maturation, favourable to the quality of the grapes.

Vinification and ageing

The fundamental principles of winemaking at Mouton Larzac are based on the fresh maturation of the grapes, pure plot-specific vinification, indigenous yeasts (selected on the estate), gentle extraction, prolonged maceration, manual pump-overs, and a single rack-and-return during the four weeks of fermentation. The malolactic fermentation takes place in vats, followed by barrel ageing. The Mouton Larzac 2023 is matured in two-wine oak barrels for 16 months.

Vine Cycle

The bud break was early, occurring between March 27 and 30, with mid-flowering around June 1 and 2. Surprisingly, the significant rainfall during the first decade of June did not adversely affect the flowering. Thinning was crucial towards the end of veraison to consolidate the maturity of the Cabernet Francs. Following flowering, a dry and relatively warm period led to rapid and early maturation, prompting the team to start harvesting the Merlots as early as September 10. Unusually, the harvest proceeded before the late September rains, with the Cabernet Francs also being harvested early.

Blending

Blend of Mouton Larzac 2023
50% Merlot
25% Cabernet
25% Syrah

The tasting

With a deep red hue and a purplish tint, Mouton Larzac exudes an intense and complex bouquet of mixed red, black, and blue berries, intertwined with fresh, mentholated eucalyptus notes and hints of liquorice that impart considerable freshness on the nose, alongside a touch of floral red fruit on the palate, featuring violet, rose, and peony. The full-bodied and robust palate echoes the nose, offering a richly tannic yet rounded flavour of great intensity. The hillside tannins and classic aromatic complexity create a harmonious ensemble, leading to a very long and elegant finish. Built to age for decades, this collectible wine reveals its character after a few years in the cellar. It is particularly representative of this special vineyard in the foothills of Larzac, characterised by clay-limestone soil once covered by the sea, well-drained and rocky under the typically sunny mountainous climate, benefiting from the Company’s minimally interventionist winemaking approach.

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