Calmel & Joseph Le Sentier Pinot Noir

Founded in 1995, Calmel & Joseph is a maison de negoce specializing in Languedoc-Roussillon wines from private wineries from across the region. Over the years, they have built close personal relationships with a large number of growers from all appellations. Convinced of the extraordinary potential of this region, oenologist, Laurent Calmel, and Jerome Joseph work together on the vinification, blending and ageing of wines with the common purpose of demonstrating the little known yet unique quality of these Mediterranean terroirs. As well as their desire to produce high quality wines consistent with their terroirs, they are committed to making wines which reflect their convictions and experience.

Vineyards

Sandy limestone clay. The soils are composed of 20% sand, which allows for good aeration and drainage. The vineyard, which is the most continental in the Corbières appellation, sits at 250 metres altitude and benefits from important thermal amplitude (the difference in temperature between day and night) which is perfect for the good development and typicity of Pinot Noir.

Vinification

Hand-picked and sorted. 85% destemmed, with the remaining 15% added in whole clusters as the vat is filled. Fermentation takes place at 25°C during 15 days. Punching down once a day from the beginning of fermentation until 1060 density is attained. Brief pumping over each day during the whole period of alcoholic fermentation. Malolactic fermentation takes place after clarification in concrete vats.

Aging

80% in concrete vats
20 % in barrels
Aged for 6 months

Tasting Notes

A lovely purple cherry coloured wine with a nose of redcurrant, black and red cherry, and blackcurrant finishing with good tension on notes of cinnamon and coffee beans. Supremely fresh in the mouth, as always, without exuberance, with silky, harmonious tannins. Opening with summer fruit such as black fig, pomegranate, and juicy wild cherry it evolves to spicy white pepper, curry, and smoky and vanilla notes. The younger sibling of our cuvée Magdeleine, Le Sentier finds in the Domaine’s terroir, so atypical of our region, a highly original source of expression for this great Burgundy grape.