La Marquise
A brilliant, luminous, yellow gold wine with green reflections. 2021, with its replenishing winter rains, very cold spring, and dry summer gave us high quality wines at the Domaine. Late pruning pushed back the ripening date of the Roussanne, resulting in aromas of broom flower, gingerbread, and fresh almond, accompanied by curry, aniseed, and white pepper. A period in barrel added complexity and elegance. The Grenache Gris leads with notes of preserved citrus, whist also expressing a lovely minerality characteristic of this altitude terroir. Green apple, rose, lychee and white peach dominate the first palate, followed by touches of mint and nutty notes. A stunning white, of typically continental character, that is both distinguished and generous. Its superb evolution in bottle places it amongst the greatest white wines of the Languedoc.
Technical sheet
Appellation
IGP Val de Dagne
Vintage
2021
Varieties
Roussanne 70 %, Grenache gris 30 %
Alcohol
12.5 % alc./vol
Terroir
The Val de Dagne sits at the foot of the Alaric Mountain in the northern Corbières hills. The slopes are of sandy clay with sedimentary chalk.
Vinification
The grapes for this wine come from our Roussanne and Grenache Gris vines. They were picked by hand by the whole Calmel & Joseph team, and for this micro-cuvee we choose only the best bunches on vines growing on the “tips” (the end of short rows) of our vineyard. They are then destemmed without crushing and pressed without prior maceration. The must is settled by a process of natural sedimentation after 24 hours. Fermentation is thermoregulated at 16-17°C for around 15 days, after which the wine, together with its fine lees, is transferred into 228 litre barrels.
Ageing
100% aged in 228 litre barrels one wine old for 12 months
Recognition and awards
- Jancis Robinson feb 2024 17/20 Read article
- Decanter WWA 2023 Bronze Medal Read article