Pierre Menard: Orion Alpha Cabernet Franc 2018

Weingut über: Orion Alpha Cabernet Franc

-- Weingut: It is a red wine made from Cabernet Franc from two small plots of Faye d'Anjou. Those two vineyards, quite different, enter equally in the blend: the first is fairly young vines of 10 years old on clay and quartz which will give the expression side of the cabernet, its power and the spine of the blend. The second plot is old vines of 70 years old at least, located in le Clos des Mailles (but below on the slope compared to the chenins, on a thicker layer of clay above schist) which gives the floral and freshness side of the wine, less colored and more on finesse. The thickness of clay above schist in both cases is important for a good maturity of Cabernet Franc, a grape variety that requires continuous water supply during summer, unlike Chenin which can support drier soils. Orion is one of the great constellations easily remarkable. Derived from very ancient origins, its name could mean summer. In the Kingdom of Akkad (around 2000 years ago) it was called Uru-anna, 'the light of heaven'. It consists of 3 major stars: Betelgeuse (Alpha Orionis) the giant red star that gives its name to the cuvée, Rigel (Beta Orionis) and Bellatrix (Gamma Orionis). Hand harvesting and destemming, maceration of about 3 weeks with few extraction movements. Aging in barrels of 1 to 5 wines. One racking during spring after malolactic fermentation.