Château Les Ollieux

France > Languedoc > Corbieres

 

Description:
Château Les Ollieux lies in the center of the Corbières appellation, in the township of Montséret. Ollieux means “olive groves” in the ancient Occitain language; these were originally planted in the 12th century by a Cistercian order. Besides being an ideal olive grove, the chateau also lies in a prime location, near the main access road that leads west to the province of Aquitaine.

The vineyards lie at the base of a rocky promontory, which shelters them from cold north winds and affords an ideal southeast exposure. The estate also straddles a natural aquifer at the base of the hills, which sustains the vineyards during periods of drought. There are 126 acres of vineyard, planted in the following grape varieties: 50% Carignan, 18% Grenache, 18% Syrah, 8% Cinsault, and 6% Mourvèdre. The relatively high percentage of Carignan is made up of very old vines, trained en gobelet or head pruned in the traditional method used in the Languedoc. The different grape varieties are planted on alternating layers of sandstone and clay, which determine a specific variety in a particular location.

Red wines of Corbières are currently experiencing a renaissance. When vinified by modern means, they recall wines from the Rhône but retain their own special charm and flavor from the unique soils and climates in which they are grown. Les Ollieux specializes in a series of wines: rosés, sold under a white label; Élevage Traditionnel, the estate standard, a blend of Carignan, Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre; Cuvée Frédérique, named for the previous owner, Mme. Surbézy, largely composed of Carignan and Syrah; La Volière, vinified for early consumption; Élevé en Fût de Chêne, a red label describing select wines aged in oak casks for six months; and the flagship, Haut de Gamme, literally the best wine made by the estate, a deluxe blend of 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Carignan and 15% each of Syrah and Grenache. This deluxe cuvée comes from select parcels whose yield is deliberately kept low, and is aged in new oak. It is identified by a special blue label, and each bottle is individually numbered.

Château Les Ollieux Corbières has excelled in all of the major French wine expositions: the Mâcon wine fair, the Concours Général Agricole, and the Paris Wine Exposition, in addition to the local Vinalies, Concours Cru Corbières and Languedoc judgings. Most recently, the wines have been praised in the influential Gilbert & Gaillard, and the Guide Hachette.
 

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Website: http://www.aude-vie.com/Languedoc_Wines/Corbieres_Wines/page13.html