La Clape: A Historic Viticultural Center
The appellation of La Clape has been a centre of viticulture since antiquity, while Narbonne was one of the largest ports in the Mediterranean, and until the 14th century La Clape mountain was in fact a steep island. Julius Caesar granted land here to his best troops, so vines have developed here for more than 2,000 years. The first AOP to cover red and white wines from the Languedoc and a protected natural site - the wider area covers 14,000ha of which approximately 800ha have been assigned as AOP La Clape.
Chateau Rouquette-Sur-Mer: Passionate Stewards of Tradition
Chateau Rouquette-Sur-Mer has been managed and developed with passion by the Boscary family for almost 90 years. Located on the cliffs of the largest classified natural site in Languedoc, it is an exceptional environment of 420ha of pine forests and fragrant scrubland. Fifty hectares of vines are distributed in islets overlooking the sea and benefit from the beneficial freshness of summer sea breezes which limits evaporation from the vines and so promotes slower, more complete ripening of the berries, whilst preserving their freshness.
Terroir and Winemaking Excellence
Cultivar HVE3 thrives in this environment yielding grapes of exceptional quality. There is also diligent monitoring, a limiting of yields to suit the plot, careful selection of grape varieties, harvesting at perfect maturity and a meticulous choice of barrels from the best coopers of France. All allows cutting-edge work in accordance with the greatest traditions, and with thought for the environment. Soils are predominantly hard limestone, clay and marl banks, marine erosion means many of the of valleys and plateaus are inclined towards the sea and carrying precious red Mediterranean soils (terra rosa).
Clos de la Tour: Expression of Terroir
Clos de la Tour is one of those unexpected wines. Made from over-ripe Mourvèdre and Syrah, it expresses their complexity while retaining great freshness. A manual harvest in several successive passes allows the ideally ripe bunches to be selected on the vine. This is followed by very precise vinification in order to reveal aromas of rare purity. Ageing in demi-muids for 12 months and supplementary ageing in bottle, provides a remarkable tannic construction of presence and suppleness, with a pleasantly mineral and peppery finish. It is a wine which magnificently expresses the qualities of the terroir from which it comes.
