CHÂTEAU DE LÉBERON
Single Cask
Unfiltered, No Additives
Cask Strength ABV: 46%
Grape Variety: 65% Ugni Blanc, 35% Colombard
Distillation: Continuous in small Armagnac still
Aging: 27 years in single Gascon oak cask
Bottled by hand at the estate in January 2021

The spring of 1994 started early, and the following harvest was fairly small due to an early frost. Despite the smaller quantity of grapes, a dry summer meant the grapes were riper and more aromatic when harvested. Following natural vinification with indigenous yeast, the wine’s distilled traditionally in an alambic armagnacais. Jean Rozes – father of current Leberon proprietor Caroline – was manning the estate in 1994, and racked the spirit into a 1200 liter foudre usually used for blending as well as one 420 liter cask, due to a lack of empty casks a the estate at the time. After 17 years, it was transferred to a single cask, where it aged for 10 more years for a total of 27 years in oak.

Château de Léberon is a fourth-generation distillery, housed in a medieval fortress constructed in the 13th century. In 1939 Osmin Rozès bought the property and restored it into the family home, planting vines and resuming distillation campaigns. The Château's s vineyards benefit from an exceptional microterroir – its roots plunge into the gritty sand and alluvial deposits of the River Baïse’s terraces, and its soil is mixed with pebbles that retain and transmit the warmth of the sun to the grapes. The vineyards are 40 years old on average, with some vines over 60 years old primarily growing Ugni Blanc and Colombard. The vines are worked following the rhythm of the seasons, respecting the cycle of nature. All pruning, folding, and budding is done by hand due to the advanced age of the vines. A completely natural vinification process is followed by traditional distillation in an Armagnac still. All bottlings are unfiltered, with no additives or dilution.

Cheers/ The Beasts