Laroque, Pinot Noir, Cité de Carcassonne, France 2021

Laroque is made from historical vineyards in the ancient region of Carcassonne that produces an extraordinary and unique wine made from 100% Pinot Noir. Laroque (from the latin roqua) derives its name from the Menhirs (a single standing stone that
dates back to the middle of the Bronze Age like Stonehenge) which are found around Carcassonne. During the Middle Ages, the vineyards belonged to the Bishop of Carcassonne, who was renowned for making the best wines in the region. Local legend has it that the devil, upset with the Bishop of Carcassonne for stealing his “clients,” tried to stone the Bishop with giant rocks. Following the attack, the Bishop constructed the fortress of Cazilhac with these Menhirs andmarked the event by placing a cross on the last remaining Menhir. After this, processions were undertaken around this oratory and all the parcels of vines that surrounded it, including those of Laroque, in order to ward off the devil.

The Laroque vineyards are located nearby the city of Carcassonne, famous all over the world for its medieval city and the Canal du Midi, both classed as World Heritage sites by UNESCO. The soil on which the vines are planted date back to the pre-historic Jurassic Period. Recent excavations have uncovered brontosauras dinosaur bones and fossilized dinosaur eggs. The vineyards which produce Laroque make an exceptional Pinot Noir that rivals the wines from Burgundy region in aromas, structure and minerality.

Situated between the Pyrenees to the south and the Black Mountains to the north, Carcassonne enjoys a privileged climatic position where the excesses of the Mediterranean climate are tempered by the softness of the Atlantic. This results in sunny, hot, dry days, but very cool nights. This extraordinary harmony in nature gives the Laroque Pinot Noir its unique signature: “the aromatic elegance of the ‘grand crus’ of Burgundy with the price point and strength of Mediterranean wine