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ROUANNE OFFERING
2019
WINEMAKER NOTES Louis Barruol Owner + Winemaker “A great vintage always conceals an element of mystery. Why didn’t the extraordinary fruit in 2005 produce a great vintage? And why, against all expectations, did the high-yielding 1990 produce such great wines? Explanations proffered with hindsight, which can be revisionist and convoluted, are sometimes quite laughable, because the basic tenet of our profession is a sense of foresight. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t explain things, I look and learn. You never know, it may come in handy the next time around . . . As you will have realized, 2019 is in the same vein as the top mysterious vintages. I still can’t understand how the vines didn’t show any symptoms of water stress despite such a dry summer. I don’t understand why the wines are so fresh and “ethereal.” I don’t understand either how the yields could be so decent. In the southern Rhone Valley, 2019 is on a par with 2016, 2010, 1998 and 1990. You only have to taste the wines to dispel any doubts about their quality, if there were any to start with. Density vies with finesse, and depth in no way obscures their “nimble” characters. You will be amazed by the standard of the wines. In Rouanne, you will be able to see for yourselves just how much the vineyards can achieve in a year like this—the result is consummate age-worthy red wines with all the intensity and finesse of a top-tier Cru. Co-fermenting the Grenache/Mourvèdre/Syrah trio is an absolute delight. Our concrete tanks enabled us to replicate the style of winemaking at St Cosme. More than ever, I am delighted to have bought Rouanne, which is now a part of the family.” – Louis Barruol, Owner + Winemaker
Louis Barruol Discusses the Acquisition of Château de Rouanne
Vintage 2018 Tasting Notes
© Imported by Winebow, Inc., New York, NY
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hâteau de Rouanne is a historic estate with a 12th century medieval castle, situated on a classified Roman site
located in the southern Rhône Valley. The estate
totals 177 acres (72 hectares), including 153 acres (62 hectares) of vines, planted as a unique single block. The Château de Rouanne vineyard is planted entirely with 50+ year old vines, which are a selection massale of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The ancient terroir is comprised of limestone and sandy marl soils dating back to the
Pliocene epoch.
“The endeavors of our predecessors, which to a certain extent forge the history of a place, are often instrumental in crafting the quality of the wines that can emerge from a great terroir.”
VINSOBRES – GATEWAY TO THE ALPS The village of Vinsobres obtained Cru status in 2006. Although not as well-known as its peers, its classification puts it on a par with Gigondas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Cote-Rotie and Hermitage, which speaks volumes about the quality of its terroir. Located along the edge of the Alps, Vinsobres is the northernmost of the southern Crus boasting first-rate geology and a cool climate thanks to the prevailing “Pontias” wind current that flows down into the valley. This appellation is particularly suited to Grenache blends—to achieve AOC statutes the reds wines from this cru must contained at least 50% Grenache as well as 25% Syrah or Mourvèdre.
ESTATE HISTORY Like its “sister estate” Saint Cosme, Château de Rouanne is located on an ancient Gallo-Roman site, featuring ancient fountains fed by underwater springs. The name of the estate comes from “Rugius,” which is said to be the name of the original Roman owner. Fragments of ancient tiles and pottery can be found littering the estate grounds and
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CHÂTEAU DE ROUANNE OFFERING | FALL 2021
vineyard. The present-day chateau was restored in the 1830s after the original building was burned down during the French Revolution.
VINEYARD LOCATION The location of Château de Rouanne is highly significant; its proximity to the foothills of the Alps (9km) creates a cool microclimate set within a temperate Mediterranean climate. The vineyard’s impressive hillside has South-East aspect comparable to the Côte de Nuits in Burgundy. Distinct plots have been identified as lieux-dits: “Les Cotes,” “Rouanne et les Crottes” and “Guerin.” The prime terroir of the estate can be attributed to the vineyard soils, which contain red Pliocene clay with a significant proportion of sand and limestone from which the wines derive their characteristic aromas of violet, peony and gingerbread found in the estate wines. The vineyard was mainly planted between 1955 and 1975 and
is comprised of massal selections of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre.
ACQUISITION In May 2019 Louis Barruol finalized the purchase of Château de Rouanne in Vinsobres. As part of his négociant partnerships, Barruol had been buying wines from Château de Rouanne for 15 years and was very familiar with the amazing vineyard and its showstopping qualities. The vineyard has already been converted to organic practices and is in the process of gaining certification. As with the wines of Saint Cosme, Barruol’s winemaking philosophy at Rouanne focuses on whole cluster fermentation, as the stems absorb alcohol and help retain acidity and tannin bringing a distinctive freshness to the wines. Native yeasts are exclusively used during fermentation and the wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered in order to deliver a “straight to the ground” interpretation of this unique vineyard.
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ESTATE WINES VINSOBRES 2019 Château de Rouanne Vinsobres Classique is a cuvee made from the individual parcels of the estate’s single-block vineyard and represents the flagship wine of the estate. The 2019 vintage marks the first full harvest under Barruol’s ownership and is proving to be a magnificent year showcasing the boundless potential of the hillside vineyard. There is an incredible salinity, which is Rouanne’s hallmark characteristic, that instills a vital freshness to the wine. The depth of the fruit, the length and the complexity of the palate make this a consummate age-worthy wine.
VINSOBRES “LES CÔTES” 2019 The Les Côtes lieu-dit is a 1- hectare plot located at the top of the Rouanne hill, and represents one of three prime vineyard sites of the estate. The clay soils have good drainage and the vines are low yielding with small, delicate berries—these are the perfect ingredients for intensity, concentration, and structure. This wine is impressive in its youth and will continue to develop and reach its prime with extended bottle aging.
VINSOBRES “ROUANNE ET LES CROTTES” 2019 This wine comes from the historical, geologic and viticultural heart of the estate. The Rouanne el les Crottes lieux-dit is a 2.1-hectacre plot located in the middle of the Rouanne hill where the original Roman villa is thought to have stood. Remnants of tiles and ancient pottery are routinely found when the viticultural team plows the soils. Similar to other hilly wine regions like Burgundy, the center of the hill is regarded as the “Holy Grail” for quality due to the balanced drainage for the soil and ideal sun exposure—this dynamic is perfectly realized for Rouanne et les Crottes. This wine possesses a majestic breadth and depth, yet still allows the verticality of the limestone and freshness of the salinity shine through.
VINSOBRES “GUÉRIN” 2019 Located at the bottom of the Rouanne hill, the Guérin lieu-dit delivers the final interpretation of the estate’s unique vineyard. This 1.5-hectare plot showcases a different soil type: reddish clay strewn with limestone pebbles, which is clingy when it rains. The profile of the resulting wine exudes a feminine elegance: complex and charming, with a mesmerizing softness. Guérin provides a beautiful and remarkable contrast to the power of Les Côtes and the majestic grandeur Rouanne et les Crottes.
BRUT NATURE MILLÉSIME 2020 The Comté de Grignan appellation is the only small area of designation permitted in the South of France for a sparkling wine. Harvested in the cool early morning hours, the grapes undergo a lengthy pressing followed by fermentation using indigenous yeasts in concrete vats to preserve the character and purity of the terroir. No dosage is added during disgorging. The 2020 vintage will be a more feminine rendition than the previous year, displaying elegant finesse, minerality and freshness. Showcasing aromas of white flowers and flint, this wine is charming with delicious flavors of pear and energetic bubbles which will bring much needed joy! Introduction to Sparkling Wine Project
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Vineyards & Tasting Notes
CHÂTEAU DE ROUANNE OFFERING | FALL 2021