Posts in category: Wine Education

Technical Sheet:

Grape varieties: 90% Syrah, 10% Grenache
Terroir: Clay-limestone
Color: Red
Type/Structure: Full-bodied
Aromatic profile: Jammy fruit, cocoa, vanilla
Serving temperature: 14–15°C
Aging potential: 10 years
Food pairings: Cassoulet, game
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Wine type: Still wine
Alcohol content: 14.5%
Volume: 75cl

Hector et Juliette 2019: its flavors

The 2019 Hector et Juliette Corbières Rouge AOP from Domaine Sainte Marie Des Crozes displays a deep cherry hue with purple highlights. On the nose, its intensity and complexity are revealed through aromas of jammy fruit, cocoa, and roasted notes. On the palate, it proves powerful and warming, offering a rich, full-bodied mouthfeel. The tannins, present right from the attack, show a fine grain that promises good aging potential.

Recommended serving temperature

To fully appreciate the aromatic complexity of the 2019 Hector et Juliette Corbières Rouge, it is recommended to serve it at around 14.5°C. At this temperature, the aromas unfold harmoniously, striking a balance between the richness of jammy fruit and the subtlety of other notes. If you wish to focus solely on the complexity of the nose, serve it at 18°C.

Achieving and maintaining the ideal serving temperature is a challenge that LACARAF addresses. Enjoy a sustainable tasting experience right at your table.

Hector et Juliette 2019 : its history

The 2019 “Hector et Juliette” cuvée from Domaine Sainte Marie Des Crozes is a blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Grenache, grown on clay-limestone soils. Hand-harvested into crates, the grapes undergo whole-cluster maceration for at least two weeks, followed by 12 months of aging in French oak barrels. This cuvée embodies the estate’s expertise and its commitment to organic viticulture.

Technical Sheet:

Grape varieties: Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, Macabeu, Roussanne, Vermentino
Terroirs: Gravel, sand, schist
Color: White
Type/Structure: Fresh / Aromatic
Aromatic profile: Citrus fruits, white-fleshed fruits
Serving temperature: 11°C
Aging potential: 5 years
Food pairings: Plancha-grilled fish, bouillabaisse, white meats, cheese
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Wine type: Still wine
Alcohol content: 14%
Bottle shape: Burgundy
Volume: 75 cl

The flavors of Mas Cristine Blanc 2023

The 2023 Mas Cristine Blanc offers pleasant freshness with citrus notes on the nose; spicy nuances emerge after aeration. On the palate, it reveals a rounded entry highlighting mango and stone fruit flavors, accompanied by notes of peach. Aging in older barrels and tanks ensures fruit purity, leading to a fragrant finish.

Recommended serving temperature

To fully appreciate the flavors of Mas Cristine Blanc 2023, it is recommended to serve it at 11°C. This highlights its spicy notes while preserving its fruity character. For a fuller expression of its fruity aromas, opt for 9°C.

Maintaining the proper serving temperature throughout the meal is important. LACARAF allows you to keep your wine at the ideal temperature right at the table.

The story of Mas Cristine Blanc 2023

Nestled at the southern edge of the Côtes du Roussillon AOC, Mas Cristine is an estate that has been certified organic since 2022. With around thirty hectares of vines cultivated with passion, the estate offers a unique view of the Roussillon plain. Founded in 1810, Mas Cristine benefits from soils composed of schist, quartz, and red clay—ideal for growing Syrah, Grenache, Roussanne, Marsanne, and Muscat grape varieties. Mas Cristine was taken over by Philippe Gard, Andy Cook, and Julien Grill in 2006.

Mas Cristine Blanc 2023 is made from hand-harvested grapes and undergoes whole-cluster pressing and low-temperature vinification.

Each bottle tells a story shaped by the terroir, the grape varieties and the know-how of the winegrowers. Today, we invite you to discover the Rasteau 2014 from Château Clématis.

Technical sheet:

Grape varieties: Grenache, Syrah
Color: Red
Type/structure: Full-bodied / Dry
Aromatic range: Red fruits, Spices, Woody notes
Serving temperature: 16-18°C
Keeping: 5-10 years
Pairings: Leg of lamb with marinated vegetables
Region: Rhône Valley
Appellation: Rasteau
Type of alcohol: Still wines
Degree: 14.5°
Bottle shape: Bordelaise
Volume: 75 cl

The aromas of the 2014 Rasteau

Château Clématis’s “Rasteau 2014” is a wine best enjoyed after at least five years of cellaring, allowing its full complexity to unfold. Crafted primarily from the Grenache Noir grape with a touch of Syrah, it offers a rich and nuanced aromatic profile. As the temperature rises, spicy notes emerge, whereas cooler temperatures highlight fruity aromas of blackberry and prune. Notes of pepper and cinnamon round out the tasting experience.

Recommended serving temperature

We recommend serving it between 17 and 18°C ​​to fully appreciate the spices in this wine. However, if you prefer to accentuate the fruitiness, a slightly lower temperature—between 15.5 and 16°C—would be ideal.

“Rasteau 2014”: its history

Château Clématis’s “Rasteau 2014” is the product of a terroir situated on sun-drenched clay-limestone slopes. Produced according to organic farming principles, this wine is made from grapes harvested entirely by hand, resulting in excellent concentration.

Traditional vinification—featuring a 20-day temperature-controlled maceration—ensures an authentic expression of the terroir and grape varieties. With an aging potential of 5 to 10 years, the “Rasteau 2014” promises to reveal new nuances and refine over time, offering an increasingly rich and complex tasting experience.

LACARAF brings the wine to the peak of its aromatic expression using its unique precision system. Pre-order LACARAF and enjoy your wine at the ideal temperature.

“Feet in the Sand”, Laballe Estate

The world of wine is often perceived as complex, yet it can also be a source of endless discovery. Today, we invite you to dive into the world of wine through an educational approach, exploring the flavors, ideal serving temperature, and story behind a specific bottle: “Les Pieds dans le Sable.”

Technical Sheet:

Appellation: IGP Landes 2022
Grape Varieties: Gros Manseng, Chardonnay, Chenin
Color: White
Type/Structure: Lively / Dry
Aromatic Profile: White flowers, tropical fruits
Aging Potential: 3 years
Food Pairings: Seafood, fish, tapas
Region: South-West
Alcohol Type: Still wines
Alcohol Content: 11.5%
Bottle Shape: Burgundy
Volume: 75 cl

Les Pieds dans le Sable: its flavors

With its clear yellow-green hue and golden highlights, this wine offers a delicate floral bouquet featuring notes of acacia and citrus. On the palate, the attack is full-bodied, with refreshing acidity perfectly balancing the white-fleshed fruit flavors (apricot and peach), resulting in wonderful freshness and a saline quality.

Recommended serving temperature

Serving temperature is crucial for fully appreciating the aromas and flavors of the wine. For “Les Pieds dans le Sable,” we recommend serving it at specific temperatures: at 11°C, you will discover crisp acidity and refreshing flavors from the very first sip; at 12.5°C, the fruit notes become more pronounced, while the wine’s slightly rich, dense texture delights the palate. Be sure to maintain the right temperature to fully enjoy the nuances this wine has to offer.

The story of the “Les Pieds dans le Sable” cuvée

Located on the border of the Landes and Gers regions, Domaine de Laballe is a family estate that has belonged to the Laudet family since 1820. Managed by Cyril and Julie Laudet, the estate spans a rare and distinctive terroir known as *Sables Fauves* (tawny sands), celebrated for the freshness and minerality it imparts to the wines and Armagnacs. Domaine de Laballe was the first to produce wines on this terroir.

In 2018, Cyril and Julie Laudet acquired Domaine de La Pointe in Capbreton. The vines there grow within a particularly fragile dune ecosystem, closely influenced by the ocean just 800 meters away.

Their range includes the “Les Pieds dans le Sable” cuvée, a unique creation that blends the *Sables Fauves* from the east with the *Sables de l’Océan* (ocean sands) from the west.

Achieving and maintaining the ideal wine temperature is a real challenge. LACARAF addresses this with a unique system designed to sit right on your table.

Pre-order yours now and elevate your tasting experience.`