A STORY
The Château de Cazeneuve is located 1 km from the village of Lauret, on a small road crossing the vineyards of Pic Saint Loup. An old building from the 9th century, it is the heart of a 35 hectare wine estate. From 820, the farmhouse is listed under the name of Casanova. In the years 1080-1100, it was called "de Trimon", then we find it under the name of Cazas Novas, then Cazanova in 1270.
Until the 14th century, it functioned in autarky thanks to its wine-growing activity. During the French Revolution, the estate was fragmented. However, the intense development of communication routes has led to a widespread cultivation of vines in the region. The Mas immediately adapted by producing white vermouth. The estate was later recovered by a moneylender who planted table grapes.
In 1988, André Leenhardt took over the estate, following the logic of the Coteau-du-Languedoc Pic-Saint-Loup appellation, in order to restructure the vineyard. 10 hectares of vines were uprooted and the cellar restored. Today, the entire production is classified as AOC Pic-Saint-Loup, with a distribution of 80% in red grape varieties and 20% in white grape varieties.
A TERROIR
The estate is situated in a natural cirque on the Causse de l'Hortus. Its specific geographical location protects the vines from the region's strong winds.
We find one of the typical compositions of the Pic St Loup terroir: clay-limestone scree on the hillsides and limestone marl on the lower slopes, on which we have planted the majority of our white grape varieties.
One terroir, however, stands out: our parcel at an altitude of 420 meters - higher than the average for the appellation - on the causse de l'Hortus, in the middle of the garrigue.
The soil on this terroir is composed of hard limestone: the vines have to go deep to find water, as the water that does arrive is naturally drained. The thermal amplitude is much greater than the rest of the terroir, and nights are cooler, so the Syrah we grow here flourishes particularly well.
"Le Causse", our white and red cuvée from this parcel, is strongly marked by this terroir's character: exceptionally fine tannins, incomparable minerality and freshness, one of the estate's nuggets!
the vineyard
Most of our vines face due east, with the remainder facing half north and half south.
In terms of red grape varieties, we mainly grow the grape varieties of the appellation: a majority of Syrah, Grenache Noir and Mourvèdre, as well as other complementary grape varieties such as Cinsault and Carignan.
We also have a small plot of Merlot for which we produce our Cuvée plaisir Caza Sorix, a wine for friends, to be drunk chilled with a cheese platter...
On the white side, we have a majority of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc, but also a pretty parcel of Marsanne on our Causse terroir, and in smaller proportions we grow Rolle, Viognier and Muscat petit grain.
OUR OLIVE TREES
We believe that the olive tree is inseparable from the vine: a tree that symbolizes the Mediterranean, it can withstand poor soils and relative dryness, just like the vine.
Olive oil and wine have always been the pillars of Mediterranean culture and gastronomy, which is why you'll often find olive trees in the middle of our vineyards.
Several varieties are grown: Lucques, Picholine, Verdale...this diversity of varieties produces a tasty oil, light and fruity, with notes of fresh almond.
We don't market this oil every year, and the few bottles we do produce are sold exclusively direct at the winery.
