# Cassagne et Vitailles Les Chausmes (2019)

- **Producer:** Cassagne et Vitailles
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Carignan, Grenache, Syrah
- **Region:** Languedoc-Roussillon, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €44
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, plum, blackberry, herbaceous, black pepper, white pepper, chocolate, vanilla, cloves, cedar, leather, forest floor

## About this wine

Domaine Cassagne et Vitailles was founded in 2015 by childhood friends Matthieu Rollin and Nicolas Seffusatti, who returned from careers in China to pursue their winemaking dream in the Languedoc. Fulfilling their passion for micro-scale, high-quality, and non-industrial production, they focus on crafting wines that lay bare the singularity of Montpeyroux's distinct terroir. 'Les Chausmes' is their flagship red blend, sourced from low-yielding plots including very old Carignan vines planted as far back as 1954. To maintain the highest standards of quality, the estate operates on a strict, speculation-free allocation basis, producing only 4,000 bottles of this micro-cuvée.

## Interesting facts

- Founded by childhood friends Matthieu Rollin and Nicolas Seffusatti after they returned from careers in China.
- Extremely limited micro-production of only 4,000 bottles, distributed strictly via global allocation.
- Features fruit from exceptionally old Carignan vines, some of which were planted as far back as 1954.
- The winemakers employ traditional foot-treading (pigeage au pied) to gently extract tannins and color.

## Food pairing

This bold, structured red wine requires rich, protein-heavy dishes to soften its medium-plus tannins. The intense dark fruit and subtle herbal notes of the wine complement roasted meats and game, while its balanced acidity cuts through rich sauces and fats.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process for 'Les Chausmes' is highly meticulous and plot-specific. Sourced from stony and clay-limestone terroirs, the grapes are 100% hand-harvested and vinified separately in stainless-steel vats to preserve the unique characteristics of each microclimate. Traditional foot-treading (pigeage au pied) is employed during fermentation to gently extract color and structured tannins. Following fermentation, the wine is aged for 12 months in new oak barrels sourced from the prestigious Chassin cooperage, allowing the blend to develop complexity and integration before bottling.