Val de l'Ours
There’s a place on the hills bordering the Mediterranean shores where nature has always been so abundant that brown bears had chosen it to settle down, knowing that the rocky hillsides and forest would provide them a safe habitat, and the thick vegetation ample supplies of food and water.
Today human activity has reclaimed this fertile valley, pushing the bears further up towards the Pyrenean mountains and allowing us to produce a range of generous wines.
Today human activity has reclaimed this fertile valley, pushing the bears further up towards the Pyrenean mountains and allowing us to produce a range of generous wines.
The vintage
The winter of 2021 brought lower temperatures than the previous four vintages. The vines were hit by several successive bursts of frost with a particularly severe one during the night of 7 to 8 April that damaged some of the plots. This was the most severe that Val de l'Ours has experienced. The other significant weather factor was the very low rainfall. The soil’s water reserves were only replenished at the very end of the season, after the harvest. These extreme weather conditions delayed the growth and development of the vines and the ripening of the grapes. The harvest started on 13 September, two weeks later than 2020.
The weather was favourable during the harvests. A few days of rain interrupted the picking schedule, but they were welcome to help the late-ripening grape varieties to reach full maturity.
The weather was favourable during the harvests. A few days of rain interrupted the picking schedule, but they were welcome to help the late-ripening grape varieties to reach full maturity.
Varietals
Syrah : 30%
Grenache noir : 29%
Cabernet sauvignon : 12%
Alicante-henri-bouschet : 10%
Marselan : 10%
Merlot : 7%
Cabernet franc : 2%
Grenache noir : 29%
Cabernet sauvignon : 12%
Alicante-henri-bouschet : 10%
Marselan : 10%
Merlot : 7%
Cabernet franc : 2%
Tasting
Beautiful dark, deep red colour with intense purple highlights.
The nose opens with notes of pomegranate, blackberry, strawberry and cherry, characteristic of this vintage.
On the palate, the attack is smooth and generous with aromas of black fruit and hints of liquorice. The wine then reveals its full complexity and length thanks to the very refined, harmoniously structured tannins.
The nose opens with notes of pomegranate, blackberry, strawberry and cherry, characteristic of this vintage.
On the palate, the attack is smooth and generous with aromas of black fruit and hints of liquorice. The wine then reveals its full complexity and length thanks to the very refined, harmoniously structured tannins.