Cotes d'Agly Château Montner 2006

Winery Description

Geographical Location
Starting in Latour-de-France on the westernmost side, Agly runs across the Estagel commune toward the east and extends up to the borders of Corbières and Fenouillèdes.
The growth of the vine is especially developed in the west and the south near Latour-de-France and Montner where the limestone leaves space for alluvial soils and schist.

History
Agly, which means Eagle in Catalan, is a terroir for fine wines.
"The bottle doesn’t matter, as long as one is intoxicated"! The vintners of Côtes de l’Agly in Estagel have taken this quote from Alfred de Musset to heart by making their wines in such a way that they receive the notoriety that they deserve.
As the result of the fusion between multiple cellars in the Vallée de l'Agly in the Eastern Pyrenees, the Cave des Vignerons des Côtes d'Agly is, today, the first cooperative to produce AOC Roussillon wines.

The Vineyard
In the clay-limestone terroir, the stony slopes between Estagel and Tautavel give the AOC Côtes du Roussillon Villages structure, robustness and a good balance between aromas and tannins. The François Arago cuvées, named after a famous native of the area, are aged in oak barrels in a climate-controlled storeroom and ensure a perfect balance between terroir and barrel-aging. The production of Château Montner is done on a terroir of schist and is composed of the following AOCs: Muscat de Rivesaltes, Rivesaltes, Côtes du Roussillon Villages, La Tour de France and Côtes du Roussillon. The schist terroir imparts elegance and aromatic fullness to the Château Montner wines and is recognized as one of the flagships of the Roussillon wine-producing region.
From the parcel selection to the oak barrel aging, and by utilizing the Integrated Production process, the wines of the Cave des Vignerons des Côtes d'Agly are subject to constant attention in order to synchronize their quality and enjoyment.

Spirit
For several years, the Cellar utilized a volunteer policy in order to pursue the elevation of the level of quality for the entire vineyard.
The vintners of Côtes d’Agly involve themselves in an integrated production protocol under the Terra Vitis label which ensures the tracking of the products and a respect for the environment.

Varietal Types
Grown from varying soils, varietals and specific terroirs, the products from the Côtes du Roussillon make up a unique and splendid patchwork of enjoyable wines.
Whether it is a AOC Côtes du Roussillon, a Côtes du Roussillon Villages or a vin de pays, the Vintners of Côtes d'Agly produce authentic wines with a distinct personality and a very good price-to-quality ratio that you must see for yourself.

Main Varietals
Red Wines: Grenache Noir, Carignan, Merlot, Syrah and Mourvèdre
White Wines: Chardonnay, Macabeu, Vermentino, Small-Berried Muscat and Muscat of Alexandria

Tasting notes

Ruby/garnet in color with notes of licorice, pepper and spice, this is a complex wine possessed of a strong character that conveys the subtle lavender, sage and other shrubland scents associated with the Garrigue soils of the vineyards that produce this wine.

Enjoy this wine with red meat, springtime vegetables, cooked fish or fine cheeses. Serve at 16°C after letting breathe for 20-30 minutes or decanting.

Vinification

Languedoc-Roussillon   AOC Cotes du Roussillon

The flavors of the Garrigue come bursting through in this great Roussillon wine from Chateau Montner.