Vinsobres 2018 - Chateau de Rouanne

Vinsobres 2018  Chateau de Rouanne 

50% Grenache - 40% Syrah – 10% Mourvèdre Pliocene marl and limestone
Average vine age 50, farmed organically
Traditional co-fermentation in concrete tanks.
Wild ferments.
18 months’ ageing in tanks.

The  2018  Château  de  Rouanne  Vinsobres  is  a  co-fermentation  of  our  old  vine  Grenache,  Mourvèdre  and Syrah. Most of Rouanne’s vineyards date from the 1960s - the massal selections offer substantial genetic diversity  and  low  yields.  The  intensity  and  soul  displayed  by  the  wines  from  these  vineyards  are outstanding. The 2018 contains wine from only the finest part of our hillside, namely the ‘middle’, akin to the Côte de Nuits, where the finest growths are always located halfway up the hillside. Instantly acclaimed by the French, British and American press, this first Vinsobres will act as a benchmark – it is the starting point of  our  story.  Behind  every  bottle  of  wine  is  a  bond  between  a  person,  a  family  and  a  place.  Château  de Rouanne  is  an  extraordinary  place  in  many  respects,  primarily  for  its  terroir.  Very  few  locations  in  the southern Rhone can boast vineyard sites of this pedigree, on this scale and with such consistency at a high level. Offering you a very finely tuned ‘translation’ of this site will be one of my main concerns over the next few  years.  To  achieve  my  mission,  I  can  count  on  the  commitment  of  my  staff  with  whom  I  share  a challenge, and that is to restore Rouanne’s innermost identity and beauty. The 2018 vintage only goes to prove once again the ability of Rouanne’s vineyards to naturally overcome the challenges thrown up by the vintage: this disposition in some ways reminds me of Hominis Fides. I ask that you be attentive and patient: Rouanne’s wines age very well and are disconcertingly robust. Setting a few bottles aside will provide a good source of learning.