Ollieux Romanis Corbieres Atal Sia 2007

Winemaker's Notes:

Corbières is the largest of the appellations in the Languedoc-Roussillon with a large number of cooperatives and hundreds of independent growers. The region enjoys a history that goes back to the Greek settlements in the second century BC. This is Cathar country with a vengeance. The legacy of that terrible conflict lives on today and there is strong sympathy for those early rebels who reflect so much of the Languedocian temperament. In case you think this is a digression there still remains a strong independent spirit. The riots of 1907 when the vignerons took on the government have been echoed down the ages since when desperate farmers have taken the law into their own hands to protect a heritage that is their livelihood. The Corbières region provides a diversity of terroirs and climates. In the Aude valley, from Lezignan and Boutenac westwards to Mont d'Alaric, the Carignan grape reigns supreme. The sheer diversity of the district and the designated eleven terroirs suggest that several crus will be created. Variety and contrast is noticeable also in the soil formation. The eruption of the Pyrenees has resulted in layers of different type of soil and subsoil. Erosion has contributed also. In the north there is red sandstone as well as pebbly terracing, while in the heart of the mountains there is marl as well as some shale, and, by the sea, coral-like chalk. The hot, dry climate ensures a long growing cycle for the vines, and the winds keep to a minimum the need for chemical treatments in the vineyard. A family owned vineyard for several generations Chateau Les Ollieux Romanis is in Montseret (renowned for honey flavoured with thyme, rosemary and lavender), situated in the heart of the Boutenac region, an area dedicated to the culture of the vine since Roman times. The vines are located on a sheltered hillside facing south east. The Atal Sia grown on the pudding stone (over sandstone) terroir of Boutenac is a lush confection of Carignan 45%; Grenache 25%; Mourvèdre 25% and a dollop of Syrah for poke. No oak here yet this is still a deep and intense wine with black fruits, orange peel, spice and liquorice and a smooth, silky, almost sweet palate.