Palais des Anciens Côtes du Roussillon Villages Red

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Vivid in colour, and smelling of the garrigue herb and spice of its location in the Pyrenean foothills, this typical blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan is full of rich and satisfying dark berry fruits tinged with angostura-like spiciness, held in suitably rustic check. Saucissons beckon

This herb scented, Pyrenean foothills blend of syrah, grenache and carignan is infused with a satisfying dark fruits and angostura-like spiciness.

Although not from Burgungy, this wine is a great match for beef bourginon because of a robust complexity that belies even its full price, although there a couple of days left before the discount ends. Made from vineyards near Cairanne in the southern Rhône, this is reassuringly earthy, spicy, leathery and full of warmth of the 'galet' stones that insulate vines at night.

Background

History

Les Vignerons Catalans en Roussillon founded in 1964 was the first group of producers to have the statute of Sicar (a company with collective agricultural interest). It was the first exporter of Languedoc Roussillon wines, starting in 1966 to export in England, Germany, Holland and Belgium) Vignerons Catalans en Roussillon produce and supply wines from across the Languedoc Roussillon region but are best known for top quality Cotes du Roussillon wines where they control production of 60% of the total AOC.

Winemaking details

Jean-Michel Barcelo

Regional info

The Roussillon region is open to the Mediterranean to the East and bordered by three mountain ranges to the North, West and South - the Corbieres, the Pyrenees and the Alberes. This region is also drained by three rivers providing a great terroir for growing vines. The Roussillon has a Mediterranean climate which is fairly mild. The region has on average 2,500 hours of sunshine per year – it has the sunniest climate in France. The weather cycles between dry and rainy seasons.