The Côtes du Rhône Villages appellation was officially created on the 25th August 1967. The Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Laurus is grown on complementary terroirs made of alluvial terraces, stony clay and limestone soils. This diversity achieves a fine balance between structure and fruitiness.
After a mild and dry winter, a spring without frost and a particularly hot summer, harvesting began several days later than 2015, with picking taking place between early to late September. During the harvest, weather conditions were truly exceptional, with warm clear days, fresh nights and some occasional light rainfall, stretching from early September all the way until the end of October. The sanitary state of the grapes throughout the region was excellent. So, this year again, the 2016 vintage is very qualitative particularly for southern appellations.
Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Laurus is a selection of terroirs from the Gard with rolled stones and clay sub-soil for the Grenaches that mature gently with no hydric stress, and Vaucluse, with south-exposed clay soils ideal for Grenache, and where limetone and sandstone provide a fresh spicyness to the Syrah.
Harvest was between 12th September and 20th October 2016, with partial destemming and crushing upon arrival at the winery, and 3 weeks of maceration with punch-downs and pumping over. 80% of the blend was aged in 1 to 2-yeard-old 275 liter oak barrels designed for the Laurus program for 15 months.