Les Gros Rouge Qui Tache
“The big red that stains” Castelet de Canon Leveque is a cuvée made from a selection of small yield plots of Alicante and Syrah grapes
Alicante is a black grape variety native to Spain and renowned for producing colourful top-end wines that are prized for their ‘weight’, dense colour and phenolic content. Its alliance with Syrah, another black grape variety widely grown in the Languedoc, offers concentrated tannins and fruit.
The vines, planted on clay-limestone soil and exposed in a magnificent setting, were harvested at good maturity and reveal a rich aromatic intensity.
For vinification the winemaker has chosen to carry out a hot pre-fermentation maceration, (destemmed and crushed grapes are heated up to 75°C during its 15 hours) to extract the deepest colour and increase aromas. This method gave this red wine its very fruity style.
An inky black colour, deep with purple reflections. On the nose, an array of elements jump out from very ripe crushed black fruits, thyme, fennel and spice. with a great intensity of sweet cherry fruit on the palate. The surprisingly luscious, quirky and very enjoyable finish has notes of chocolate. The tannins are smooth but with plenty of ageing potential.
Not too much acidity and only a slight hint of wood and tannin makes this red perfect to drink on its own.
It will go wonderfully with red meats, grilled beef ribs, Mediterranean tapas and cheese platters. It also pairs with pasta, smoked meat and dark chocolate.
About the Producer
Vignobles Vellas
The activity of the Vellas Vineyards is managed by Nicolas Vellas – passionate about the wine, the vine and the magnificent Languedoc terroir
The company is committed to work with various vineyards with a goal of healthy grapes, picked up at optimum maturity to make red wines rich in fruit, concentrated, intense, with a ‘stand out’ appeal. Their modern, aromatic and elegant rosé and white wines are treated with the same utmost respect for the varietal fruit.
Nurtured by a know-how of four generations, Nicolas Vellas’s motto is to strive for excellence, authenticity and innovation. To make exceptional wines that emanate real emotions, to bring out through each cuvée a unique terroir, but also a master hand, from a passionate artisan winegrower and involved in his qualitative approach.
Innovation and creativity is are the real strengths, bringing great wines of exceptional rarity and original packaging rarely seen before.
“Wines of today and tomorrow, wines full of emotions and joy, wines that reveal a real art of living, wines that we like to share, wines that resemble you!”
