Chateau Saint-Roch Cotes du Roussillon Villages Old Vines Red 2020

High Environmental Value level 3 vineyard. The Grenache are ‘gobelet’ -free-standing bush vines and the Syrah is trained on trellis wires. Sustainable, low-impact farming, with hand-harvesting for the Grenache. First selection as the bunches are cut, and 2nd sorting of grapes at the cellar door. The fermentation is kept between 20-23°C to maximise fruit expression and the wine is macerated for 4 weeks with pumping over and pigeages. 60% of the wine is matured in 500L oak barrels for 14 months, the rest in concrete tanks. A fruit-driven wine, with flavors of blueberries and cherries lifted by subtle hints of black olives, fresh herbs and delicate dark chocolate notes. This richly textured wine with sweet tannins captures the heady aromas of the Mediterranean. Pair with grilled meat or hard cheese.

Chateau Saint-Roch Cotes du Roussillon Villages Old Vines Red
Appellation:Cotes du Roussillon
Region:Languedoc-Roussillon
Country:France
ABV:
15%
Raw Materials: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre

About the producer
At worst the Roussillon is seen as an appendage of the Languedoc. Slightly better, but still not great, is the temptation to see it as monolithic, when in reality there are a range of terroirs from the coastal plain, to the three valleys which succeed each other from the north to the south, to the unique spot where the Pyrenees meet the sea. While Jean-Marc is best known for his vineyards south of Perpignan he grew up near Maury where, as a teenager, he tended his first vineyard and made his first wine. So when the opportunity presented to purchase an estate here, how could he refuse?

Maury is probably best know for its aged, fortified wines, which means that it’s really not that well known at all. When was the last time you had a Maury? Located in the Agly Valley, this region of the Roussillon is rugged, sheltered, and warm with distinctive black schist soils. These are the characteristics that make the terroir unique and in recognition of this fact as well as the prevailing trend in favor of dry wines, the AOC of Maury Sec was created. Maury Sec is darker, more mineral and more brooding in general than wines from the rest of the Roussillon. Grenache, not surprisingly, is the main grape along with smaller plantings of Syrah, Carignan and Mourvedre. Saint Roch even makes a small quantity of white wine from Grenache Blanc and Roussanne.