Nestled in the heart of Corbières within a natural amphitheater surrounded by hills and garrigue, Château Pech-Latt enjoys an ideal location between land and sea, benefiting from dual climates and rich, varied terroirs with unique geological characteristics.
Spanning around 130 hectares of vineyards, Château Pech-Latt has stood out since 1991 for its commitment to organic viticulture. In a continuous pursuit of the highest quality for its Corbières wines, Château Pech-Latt has also adopted parcel-based vinification. Here’s what this means.
What is parcel-based vinification?
Parcel-based vinification is a respected, traditional method revived in the wine world to produce wines of exceptional quality.Unlike classic vinification, which blends grapes from different plots or grape varieties, parcel-based vinification treats each vineyard plot individually, taking its unique traits into account. This method allows winemakers to showcase the unique character of each terroir, resulting in wines with distinctive personalities.
At Château Pech-Latt, this approach is central to wine production, ensuring bottles that perfectly reflect the diversity of our soils and climate. But what does parcel-based vinification actually add to the quality of a wine?
Meticulous work in the vineyard
The essence of parcel-based vinification lies in understanding the fine details of the terroir.
Each vineyard plot is unique: it may have a specific soil type, a different sun exposure, or a particular altitude. The winemaker observes and studies these details to adapt their work, from pruning and vine care to harvesting. At Château Pech-Latt, we are committed to working each plot individually to respect its needs and potential as much as possible.
Depending on the year’s climatic conditions and soil type, some plots may yield grapes that are more concentrated, more aromatic, or have higher acidity. This allows us to produce wines that are more balanced and expressive, reflecting the richness and complexity of our terroir.
Precision in vinification
After carefully hand-harvesting the grapes, the parcel-based vinification continues in the cellar. Each batch of grapes is vinified separatelyin distinct vats to preserve the unique characteristics of each plot. This process requires meticulous monitoring, as each batch develops at its own pace, influenced by grape quality and fermentation conditions.
Here, the expertise of the cellar master plays a crucial role: they must first determine the harvest date based on ripeness levels, then choose the maceration method, monitor temperature and density evolution during fermentation, adjust daily work for each plot, and finally, the type of pressing.
This demanding work is essential to ensure that each wine fully expresses its identity. At Château Pech-Latt, this precision allows us to offer wines of great finesse and rich in aromas.
Exceptional wines: terroir at its peak expression
Thanks to parcel-based vinification, each wine becomes a tribute to the terroir where it originated. This method highlights the diversity of our plots and creates wines that tell a story. It’s during this meticulous work prior to blending that the Château Pech-Latt team develops aromatic complexity, tension, length on the palate, elegance, and finesse in our cuvées. In this phase, we work to retain the terroir and vintage characteristics in our wines, showcasing the perfect harmony between vineyard work and human effort.
At Château Pech-Latt, we firmly believe that this approach, more respectful of nature and the grape, is the key to producing high-quality Corbières wines. Our cuvées are born from a passion for the land and a commitment to excellence, ensuring each tasting offers a unique sensory experience.
Regularly praised by critics, , our wines have garnered numerous awards and medals which motivate us daily to continue our efforts.
Interested in tasting our organic Corbières wines? Choose from our eight exceptional cuvées! !
