Les Vignerons des Roquemaure "Je Deteste Merlot" Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2024

FROM COMMUNAL BRANDS:

THE WINE: 100% Merlot. Grapes are harvested off 8 sustainably farmed hectares located in the villages of Roquemaure and Saint Genies de Colomas, with close proximity to the Rhone river, leading to a fresher fruit style and softer tannin structure. All cuvees are made with sever plot selection and low yields at 50hl/ha. Crushed and fermented in concrete tanks with regular pumpovers, twice daily at the peak of fermentation, to extract color, flavor and tannin. After 3 weeks on skins, drained and pressed off. Blended before MLF. Matured for 8 months in concrete tanks.

THE PRODUCER: Les Vignerons des Roquemaure, or Rocca Maura, is a small, local cooperative of 50 growers, established in 1922. This coop is defined by its history, character, intimate size and commitment to organic and sustainable practices in the vineyard. A cooperative structure allows for access to top quality, micro-growers that would never have the ability to scale themselves to a sustainable level independently. Working cooperatively, they are able to focus on their strengths in the vineyard and collaborate with a winemaker that shares their production philosophy and sensibility. The end result is market access to top quality producers that would not otherwise have a route to market at reasonable prices.