Domaine de la Rochelierre Fitou Cuvée Tradition

Geographical situation
Domaine de la Rochellière is located to the south of the Aude department at the border with the Eastern Pyrenees department, on a mountainous terroir of 15ha.

Situated on the foothills of the Massif des Corbières and facing the Gulf of Cible allows it to belong to the Muscat de Rivesaltes AOC.



History
Domaine de la Rochellière has been a family business for four generations that have been very attached to their land.
Today Jean-Marie Favre is the heir and, since he has started this you man has chose to prioritize quality for the entire production by making use of a cultivation method known as COUSINIE.
This method consists of only using organo-mineral products.
Regularly listed in the Hachette wine guide as a “coup de Coeur”, Jean-Marie Favre won two gold and silver medals in Paris in 2008.

The terroir
The characteristics of the terroir are, first off, that it is unusually sunny (the most in France), is exposed to very little rainfall (the least in France), and, finally, the northwesterly wind known as the Tramontane blows about 230 days per year.
This is in relation to a very weak soil with dominance elements of clay-limestone and schist.
These parameters together provide the conditions for a limited yield and significant concentration.

Varietal type
The average production is only 32hL per hectare, which explains the amazing quality and the cellaring potential of these wines.
The red varietals cover 60% of the vineyards with Grenache Noir, Carignan, Mourvèdre, and Syrah for the AOCs.
Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are used for the table wines.
For the desert wine Muscats of Alexandria, Vermentino, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc are used.

Primary varietals
Red Wines: Grenache Noir, Carignan, Syrah and Mourvèdre
White Wines: Grenache Blanc, Muscats of Alexandria, Roussanne and Vermentino

Deep garnet color with mineral notes of flint. Aromas of dark fruit and peppery spices. Fleshy on the palate with silky tannins. A straightforward finish of licorice and red fruit. This wine goes well with chicken or veal, fish (grilled or in sauce) and fine cheeses. Serve at between 16˚ and 18˚ C

Languedoc-Roussillon     AOC Fitou