Name
Chimeres
Order #
917465
Producer
St Roch
Vintage
2009
Price
$16.99
About
2009 available Jan 15th 2012.
Recently purchased by Jean Marc Lafage, Chateau Saint Roch is located in the Maury Area of the Agly Valley, which is 15 miles from Perpignan and the Mediterranean Sea. The castle of Queribus, built by the Cantharis, at the top of the steep Corbières Mountain watches over the vineyards from the north. Each plot is now surrounded by black berry bushes, fig trees, pomegranate trees, cherry trees, carob trees, oaks, as well as fields of thyme, lavender and fennel.
The soil of the hills is made up of schiste clay with a limestone base and their altitudes vary between 120 to 370 meters. The wind, called here the "Tramontane", circulates in this corridor between Fenouillèdes and Corbières. The southern Catalan sun takes advantage of the refractive qualities of the schist from this ancient icy plateau to give St Roch its unique light.
Recently purchased by Jean Marc Lafage, Chateau Saint Roch is located in the Maury Area of the Agly Valley, which is 15 miles from Perpignan and the Mediterranean Sea. The castle of Queribus, built by the Cantharis, at the top of the steep Corbières Mountain watches over the vineyards from the north. Each plot is now surrounded by black berry bushes, fig trees, pomegranate trees, cherry trees, carob trees, oaks, as well as fields of thyme, lavender and fennel.
The soil of the hills is made up of schiste clay with a limestone base and their altitudes vary between 120 to 370 meters. The wind, called here the "Tramontane", circulates in this corridor between Fenouillèdes and Corbières. The southern Catalan sun takes advantage of the refractive qualities of the schist from this ancient icy plateau to give St Roch its unique light.
Review
92 Points - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
"I reported on the 2007 Cotes du Roussillon Chimeres from his small Maury estate Chateau Saint Roch in issue 83, but now that the wine has been bottled, I want to re-emphasize its amazing quality (not even to mention for the price!) A blend of Grenache with a bit of Carignan from Maury's schist and chalk with Syrah from high-altitude granite slopes in Saint Paul de Fenouillet, it was fermented and raised in 500-liter barrels and bottled at the very end of last year. Fresh and jam-like layers of black raspberry, rhubarb, and fresh cherry in the nose and mouth are tinged with resinous sage, rosemary, and lavender, while striking top notes of gentian and violet waft from the glass. For all of its saturating sweet ripeness and fresh berry brightness on a silken-textured palate, this also harbors low-toned roast meatiness, while piquant notes of toasted pistachio and almond, black pepper, cherry pit, and herbs keep its long finish far from any danger of succumbing to superficial sweetness. It will be worth following for at least 3-4 years, if not longer."
Print Page"I reported on the 2007 Cotes du Roussillon Chimeres from his small Maury estate Chateau Saint Roch in issue 83, but now that the wine has been bottled, I want to re-emphasize its amazing quality (not even to mention for the price!) A blend of Grenache with a bit of Carignan from Maury's schist and chalk with Syrah from high-altitude granite slopes in Saint Paul de Fenouillet, it was fermented and raised in 500-liter barrels and bottled at the very end of last year. Fresh and jam-like layers of black raspberry, rhubarb, and fresh cherry in the nose and mouth are tinged with resinous sage, rosemary, and lavender, while striking top notes of gentian and violet waft from the glass. For all of its saturating sweet ripeness and fresh berry brightness on a silken-textured palate, this also harbors low-toned roast meatiness, while piquant notes of toasted pistachio and almond, black pepper, cherry pit, and herbs keep its long finish far from any danger of succumbing to superficial sweetness. It will be worth following for at least 3-4 years, if not longer."
