Philosophy
Nature is not tamed, but transformed through craftsmanship and patience into something even better.
For nearly a century, Château La Caminade has been producing wines that embody our region and our soul, thanks to the natural gifts of the soil, the grapes, the climate and a love of a job well done.
As farmers, we believe that regenerating our land is the key to our present and future success.
At La Caminade, this translates into a strong commitment to practices that are most respectful of the environment: fewer treatments, more work on the ground, natural fertilization and particular attention to biodiversity in our vines.
All these elements have allowed us to obtain the HVE classification - High Environmental Value.
Working hand in hand with nature to produce the best
Our quality commitment for our wines: Disbudding, leaf stripping, green harvesting. In May we remove all parasitic buds that form on the trunk or in duplicate. At the beginning of summer, we remove the leaves on the north or east side of the row in addition to the green harvest which consists of removing excess bunches of grapes. These tasks promote the aeration of the vines and grapes and allow for better maturation and health in view of the next harvest.
The vineyard
Sheltered behind the hills, often protected from the cold, our 30-hectare vineyard is located on the second and third terraces of the Lot.
Its geographical location and microclimate allow each grape variety to wait for the ideal ripening before harvesting.
The terroirs
Our vines grow on the 2nd and 3rd terraces of the Lot.
The 2nd terraces are composed of ancient alluvium (200,000 years old): sand and silt on the surface on a layer of clayey-sandy pebbles. They produce rather supple and delicious wines.
The 3rd terraces, the noblest soils of the valley, are located at a level between 40 and 60 m above the river. They have a thin soil of ancient alluvium (500,000 years old) which covers a gravelly mantle.
Two thirds of our plots are located on the 3rd terraces.
Malbec, this grape variety originating from Quercy
Black as ebony, Malbec, this late-ripening grape, produces colorful wines, very rich in tannins, built for long aging and which, thanks to gentle vinification, can be enjoyed young for the pleasure of our taste buds. It represents approximately 80% of the vineyard surface.
The complement is essentially composed of Merlot and 3 small plots of Tannat.
The average age of the vines is 40 years. They sink deep into the soil and reveal a little more of the character of this grape variety each year.
Winemaking
To allow the characteristics of our terroirs to express themselves, so that they respond to and complement each other, blending is involved, an essential and marvelous exercise which the team carries out with precision and mastery.
In the cellar
In the cellar the grapes are treated with respect. By separate grape varieties, the harvest is sorted manually on a table then passes through a destemmer for a second sorting. Extraction by punching down the must solids into the tank several times a day allows for good aeration of the must during fermentation and promotes the homogeneity and finesse of tannin extraction. This micro-oxygenation combined with good temperature control is important for the multiplication of yeasts and the aromatic expression of our wines. Our wines are aged in stainless steel or cement vats for our “fruit” vintages, and in 225 and 300 litre oak barrels for the Commandery.
La Caminade Castle
In Occitan, La Caminade means “presbytery or curial residence”.
Until the French Revolution the estate belonged to the clergy, hence the name
"Caminade Estate".
