CHATEAU ETANG DES COLOMBES

CHATEAU ETANG DES COLOMBES – 11200 Lezignan-Corbières

The first time I came in contact with this wine-yard was because of their very fancy rosé-bottles. They are of that kind many people save and have for decoration. Some restaurants use the empty bottles to serve ordinary water as they are so decorative.

I have also several times been drinking their top red cuvé – Bois de Dames and appreciated it very much. The other day our neighbors served us the last bottle from the year 2000 and I opened it with few expectations – it is a 13 years old wine for 10 euros. It was excellent with, typically enough for an old Corbières, tastes of chocolate and tobacco and also quite a lot of soft tannins left.

At a restaurant yesterday I ordered their traditional white wine made from Grenache blanc, Bourboulenc and Maccabeu. It was fruity and dry as a good not oaked wine should be.

Today I went to the wine-yard and bought one case of each. Despite it is just 15 minutes from my home it was my first visit. If I had not tried the wines before I might however not have bought any red. The wine I was given to taste came from a bottle that had been open for four days and was not at its best. The salesperson obviously did not think I would notice the difference.  When I commented on it he was quite embarrassed.

WEB: http://www.etangdescolombes.com

DOMAINE ROQUE SESTIERE

DOMAINE ROQUE SESTIERE – 8, rue des Etangs. 1200 Luc sur Orbieu

A bit unusual for Corbières, this vine-yard concentrates on white wine. They have three different cuvee of white, one red and one rose – all of them are AOP Corbières. 

A favorite since many years is the white cuvée Vielles Vignes that goes very well with more elaborate fish dishes. We have howver not tasted the prestige white Gouttes d’Or that is made from 50/50 of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc. Friends of us has however praised it and it has to live up to that for a prize of 14 euros, which is quite a lot for a white wine from the region. Do not misunderstand,  the white wines are mostly superb – fruity and pleasant, but they are generally not of the kind that you can save for more than a couple of years.

WEB: http://www.roquesestiere.com

CHATEAU OLLIEUX ROMANIS

CHATEAU OLLIEUX ROMANIS - Route départementale 613, 11200 Montsére

This vine-yard is much diversified. Besides making wine of absolutely highest quality they arrange a number of different activities, like art exhibitions, music-nights and it is also possible to stay the night in the gite.

The production of wine is mainly AOP Corbières, with the prestige wine Atal Sia of AOP Corbières Boutenac. Another prestige wine is Cuvèe d’Or that we have tried a case of and found absolutely exceptional, but a little on the expensive side. They also produce white and rose-wine and a few designers wine under Vdp d’Oc.

If you have opportunity it might be a good idea to join one of their events and taste their wine together with buffet food. They also sell wine from the caveau at those occasions. 

WEB: http://www.ollieux.com
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CHATEAUX DU VIEUX PARC

CHATEAUX DU VIEUX PARC – 1 ave Vignerons, 11200 Conilhac-Corbières

As most of the vine-yards in the area Château du Vieux Parc  is concentrated on red wine of AOP Corbières. They also produce one white and one rosé under this classification and a red Vdp Hautrive.

We first came in contact with this vine-yard in the 90s when we were wine importers and we still visit them occasionally to get a case or two of their wine. In the next door gourmet restaurant L’Auberge Côte Jardin it is a natural thing for us to choose wine from them with our meal. Our favorite wine is the top quality Cuvée Selection, but all the wines are excellent.

 An unusual thing is that this producer offers wine of older harvests for you to buy. Normally you can only buy the wine that has just been bottled and have to mature it yourself. Here you can get a bottle that is already matured to your taste, open it up as soon you get home and drink it with your meal.

The wine-shop is situated in the castle in the dead center of the little village Conilhac-Corbières surrounded by a park. If you happens to visit the yearly November jazz festival in the village, where you can enjoy world star artist – do not forget to get there a little early and visit the château to get a few cases of the lovely wine.

Owner and wine-maker: Louis et Claudine Panis
WEB: http:// www.chateau-viewparc.com

L’ABBAYE DE FONTFROIDE

L’ABBAYE DE FONTFROIDE – Rd 613, 11100 Narbonne

This place is so much more than a wine producer and a wine shop. Prepare for a whole day trip and take a guided tour of the old monastery from 1093 or just walk around in the relaxing park. You might want to take a more demanding hike in the lovely environment or do some shopping in the gift-shop. A must is to have lunch in the beautiful restaurant - La Table de Fontfroide - whose historic predecessors have been serving food to travelers since the end of the 11^th century. To test the wine from the vine-yard together with the magnificent food is the best way to know what you want to take home afterwards.

The wine shop offers four red wines of AOP Corbières, and three white and one rosé of the same appellation. They also have one white and one rosé of Vdp d’Oc. A very interesting and pleasant wine is their Muscat sec, which is not really dry – they themselves call it “moêlleux”, which is sweetish and very fruity. They sell it in half liter bottles and it is perfect with “foie gras”, with blue cheese or as an aperitif.

Their wines have names that fit the historic heritage, like Deo Gratias (Thank God), which is the top cuvee, Laudamus (praising), Ocellus (little eye) and Frère Convers (a monastic title).

In the church concerts and plays are organized and in the beautiful monastery they arrange flower exhibitions and a lot of other interesting event through the year.

WEB: http://www.fontfroide.com
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LA CAVE DE GRUISSAN

LA CAVE DE GRUISSAN - Avenue de la Douane, 11430 Gruissan

Cave de Gruissan is not a place where you buy wine to save in your cellar for years. Still we go there regularly to get a few cases. Our favorite is a sparkling wine for a very good price. It comes in a well-designed bottle and is actually very good and absolutely perfect for a kir royal.

The cave has a good selection of nice rosé-wines and also good white. These are the kind of nice wines you can buy for everydays consumption as they are very affordable and well made. The cave also sell bag-in-box and you can bring your own container and fill it up with table-wine just as they did it in the old days.

They produce wine of AOP Corbières and AOP Coteaux du Languedoc La Clape but also a number of variety wines with appellation IPG Aude and IGP Pays Cathare. They also have a selection of sweet and half-sweet wine, but their Mousseux  blanc is really why we go there regularly.

WEB: http://www.cavedegruissan.com
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CAVE COOPERATIVE DE EMBRES ET CASTELMAURE

CAVECOOPERATIVE DE EMBRES ET CASTELMAURE -  4, route des Canelles 11360 Embres & Castelmaure

In the twin-villages Embres et Castelmaure you will find one of the top cave cooperative in the region of Corbières. They a widely known for a quality that you normally only find from producers that control their wine in every step.

All wines from the most inexpensive to their prestige wine Cuvée No 3 are made in the most careful way. We found a forgotten 7 years old bottle of the most inexpensive wine last year and it was absolutely perfectly matured despite its age. My favorite is mostly their La Grand Cuvée, while Cuvée No 3 is a bit too expensive at a prize of just under 20 euros. These wines can easily be saved for 10+ years, but it is not necessary. Cuvée Pompadour is another wine that I think is best to drink not to old, but that is only due to my taste. These wines are red, but they also have a selection of white and rosé wines.

An interesting thing is that the wine-shop has a tasting automate for visitors. You get a glass and let you test the wine by yourself. Every wine is displayed and you have a choice of three buttons – one for a little drop, one a bit larger and one quite large amount. There is always a person present so you can discuss the wine or ask questions if you like. I like it as you can taste in your one pace and the person behind the counter can help more people if needed.

The whole place is fairly newly renovated and unlike most wine-shops in the area it has a very modern style and so have all boxes, labels, and other items in the shop including their web-site.