Châteaux Ollieux Romanis, Corbières

Jacqueline Bories

Corbières is the largest of the appellations in the Languedoc-Roussillon with a large number of cooperatives and hundreds of independent growers. The region enjoys a history that goes back to the Greek settlements in the second century BC. This is Cathar country with a vengeance. The legacy of that terrible conflict lives on today and there is strong sympathy for those early rebels who reflect so much of the Languedocian temperament. In case you think this is a digression there still remains a strong independent spirit. The riots of 1907 when the vignerons took on the government have been echoed down the ages since when desperate farmers have taken the law into their own hands to protect a heritage that is their livelihood.

The Corbières region provides a diversity of terroirs and climates. The hot, dry climate ensures a long growing cycle for the vines, and the winds keep to a minimum the need for chemical treatments in the vineyard.

A family owned vineyard for several generations, Chateau Les Ollieux Romanis is in Montseret (renowned for honey flavoured with thyme, rosemary and lavender), situated in the heart of the Boutenac region. The vines are located on a sheltered hillside facing south east. The Cuvée Prestige Rouge is from Carignan vines (up to 100 years old) has concentrated flavours of black cherries, cocoa butter, liquorice and balsam. Aged in wood for about fifteen months this Corbières is impressive in youth, but will continue to improve over the years.

These wines make me feel hungry and would go variously with Laguiole cheese, duck with orange, lamb stew, roast pigeon with peas or rabbit in chocolate sauce or a Roussillonnade of sausages and mushrooms grilled on pine cones