NAME OF WINE: Cuvee Prestige Rouge
NAME OF ESTATE/DOMAINE: Ollieux Romanis
VINTAGE: 2015
ABV: 14.5%
NAME OF VIGNERON: Pierre Bories
LOCATION: Corbieres-Boutenac, Languedoc, France
GRAPE/BLEND (with %): 40% Carignan 25% Grenache 25% Mourvèdre 10% Syrah.
SUSTAINABLE/ORGANIC/BIODYNAMIC: Conversion to Organic
CERTIFICATION: N/A
SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS/VEGANS: Yes, Both
ALLERGENS (EGGS AND/OR MILK): NONE

TASTING NOTE: Carignan vines up to 100 years old plus the usual grape suspects has concentrated flavours of black cherries, cocoa butter, liquorice and balsam. Aged in wood for about fifteen months this Corbières is impressive in youth, but could happily snort awhile in the Seven Sleepers’ Den.

(LOCAL) FOOD RECOMMENDATION: Grilled beef, fricassee of ceps, Livarot cheese

SHORT HISTORY: Ollieux Romanis is a magnificent property with a huge winery nestling at the centre of its vines. The winery and wine cellar were built in 1896; these buildings were built from stone quarried from within the property and they still stand proud today. The first parcel of Carignan was planted in 1896, and it is still used for production of grapes today. The Carignan grape variety has become the leitmotif of the Bories family- Pierre’s mother, Jacqueline, who was the winemaker in the 1970’s resisted all the hype that grew up in the 1970’s around the Syrah grape, and highlighted the Carignan grape in her wines. It is still the case for Pierre and his team.

(MICRO)CLIMATE: Hot and dry summers, when severe drought conditions are fairly normal. in general, in this zone, there is plenty of wind, both during the Summer and during the rest of the year. Winters are fairly mild. Rainfall comes in autumn and in spring and rarely exceeds 500 millimetres.

TERROIR: Mediterranean clay, sandstone, pudding stones. The vines are located on a sheltered hillside facing south east.

VITICULTURE: 40-80 year old vines
YIELDS: 35hl/ha
VINIFICATION:

•   Manual harvested

•   Carbonic maceration, vinification in stainless steel, ageing in barriques.

•   The wine is fermented and then aged in tank for 12-18 months.