Cuvée Cadireta,
Expert Precision From Lafage

SURPRISINGLY GENEROUS ON THE PALATE! WATCH OUT FOR THIS GEM!

Our team of tasters was completely bowled over by the subtle, unforgettable aromas of this vintage! Another great success for a perfectly balanced Chardonnay. No doubt then, that it is among the most emblematic vintages of this domaine and of all the treasures from Roussillon.

Grown here in the Perpignan-Méditerranée terroir, Chardonnay (the very grape that made the reputation of the great white Burgundy vintages) offers us the wonderful heart of Roussillon.

As a matter of fact, if the particular nature of this variety is that it is planted everywhere, it is not just because it adapts to every soil and any climate, but also because it is easily permeated by the terroir in which it grows. It has even become the undisputed star of all the white varieties present in the wineries of Roussillon.

But Cadireta expresses so much more than just a simple terroir: It is emphasised by the expertise of the oenologist.

The complex vinification technique is what gives this vintage such a rare sensory profile: the aromatic experience is that of ripe fruits, which is typical of Chardonnay, the intensity of the terroir that comes from the warm soils of Roussillon, but this note of floral freshness is the result of the Chardonnay being expertly matured on Viognier lees.

Result: a lively rotundity, and one of the richest aromatic profiles. A clear, precise hallmark of the winemaker! Make no mistake about it, we have a great cuvée from Lafage!

SHALL WE TASTE?

Appearance: Green to yellow, with bright reflections.

Nose: Dry white and very aromatic wine. The bouquet has a great intensity with hints of vanilla and ripe fruits (bananas and exotic fruits).

Palate: Full on the palate, well structured and echoing the bouquet in aroma, with a subtle mix of vanilla and fruit: intense flavours that evoke apricot, butter and brioche... A Chardonnay to be precise!

Perfectly mastered with specific aromas, and a floral freshness that comes from adding Viognier lees. 

A perfect balance! A stunning Cadireta!

AN EXCEPTIONAL VINTAGE

The grape harvest was historically early...

The first grapes were picked in the first week of August. It was a particularly hot summer, with budbreak, flowering and ripening of the grapes happening a whole week early.

The quality is there, following in the footprints of the two previous years. Especially the white wines, which have revealed a very interesting, delicate aromatic profile, dominated by the floral and fruity aromatic background.

A BEAUTIFULLY AGED CHARDONNAY!

The sun-drenched Chardonnay grapes are grown under the bright skies of Roussillon, waiting all summer for their date with destiny: The harvest!

Mid-September! The time has come for it to be painstakingly removed from the cine and to put its fate into the experienced hands of the enologist...and not just any enologist!

Lafage, the key name among the region’s wineries, is known for giving its wines the most authentic hallmark of Rousillon’s diverse terroirs.

The rewards have been staggering, the vineyard has made a name for itself in the international press and this time, for its Cadireta, there is no question of it being an exception!

To obtain the most authentic expression of the Perpignan-Méditerranée terroir. Jean-Marc and Éliane Lafage, both enologists have used their own particular vinification technique: a blending technique that involves Viognier lees!

The secret behind the technique of ageing on lees:

After six hours of cold pre-fermentation, the grapes go on to maceration for 10 days at 0°C on Viognier lees!

To explain, the lees are solid residues (fragments of skin, seeds, stems, etc.) from the pressing, which settle at the bottom of the tank. Using a centrifuge, the liquid can be extracted, or the lees can be pressed to get a clear juice that is mixed into the must before fermentation. An aromatic filtrate of quality.

To continue the vinification of Cadireta, it spends three months transforming in the winery: it is aged and stirred on fine Viogner lees. Stirring consists of suspending the lees (yeast and grape residues). Although it is not exactly simple, the technique of ageing on lees serves to add body and richness to the wine in order to boost the development of complex aromas. The result is interesting for this Cadireta! It can’t be said that this vintage is lacking in volume on the palate!

It is the result of remarkable precision!

Maceration on the lees takes skill, equipment and know-how at every stage in the process! This means daily monitoring for the winemaker: permanent checks of the temperature during the pre-fermentation and fermentation stages; lack of spontaneous fermentation; regular stirring during maturation; suitable filtration material...
There’s no doubt that the team at the Lafage Domaine understands the full potential of the technique used to extract the heart and aromatic background from the terroir. Selected aromas of fresh butter, peach and vanilla give this Chardonnay its delicate, subtle bouquet.
A staggering result for this "cadireta", which in Catalan means "little chair"...the very same type of chair that a grandfather would use when supervising the smooth running of the harvest. More than just a story, this is one of the most touching tributes to family know-how, passed down through generations.

A WHITE CÔTES-CATALANE!

Yes! A white Côte Catalane...and a big surprise! The Protected Geographical Indication (IGP) for Côtes-Catalanes brings together traditional Catalan wines, a local wine from the coasts of Fenouillèdes and another from Vals d'Agly.

"In the late afternoon, a little mist coming up from the Mediterranean shoreline, brings a salty note to the vineyards in certain centuries-old plots, grown with a background of invigorating sea spray." Jean-Marc Lafage.

Cultivated in the Perpignan-Méditerranée terroir, this vintage reflects the ambition of Jean-Marc and Éliane Lafage: the cool coastal climate is what is being sought here, according to the caprices of the sea breezes.

A lovely land/sea combination!

ROUSSILLON’S FLAGSHIP WINE ESTATE

An old stone Catalan farmhouse dating back to the 15th century and full of charm! In the heart of Roussillon, the geographical amphitheatre overlooked by complex slopes and the varied geological layers, the soil harbours the rich qualities that make the vintages from Roussillon so different.

And out of these great estates, there is one that stands out above the rest, and that is the Lafage domaine.

Thanks to the constant, recognised quality of its products, the result of painstaking work,, the team has been able to combine technique and tradition to respect the Roussillon terroir and the character of its grape varieties.

Domaine Lafage has been in the family since 1798 and stands out for three distinct, emblematic terroirs:

Terroir de l'Agly, Terroir Perpignan-Méditerranée and Terroir des Aspres. Each one represents the very best of soil diversity in Roussillon. The typicality of local wine production that the most important names in the industry all appreciate and recommend.

Sources: official website Lafage Domaine

Photo credits: H. Leclair.