La Voliere des Ollieux 2016

This one is almost as enjoyable to say as it is to drink. You could almost believe you're French. G'wan, say it: "La Volière des Ollieux". "La VOLière des OLLieux". It makes you want to don a pair of red trousers, whizzing down a country lane in your 2CV, surrounded by fields of sunflowers, listening to Jacques Brel on the radio.

If you can't do that, however, just drink the ruddy wine. What does it taste like? Why, it has a concentrated and powerful nose of plums, blackberries and coffee, with a round, open palate of fresh red fruit flavours and a pronounced minerality. "La VOLière des OLLieux"

Corbières is the largest appellation of the Languedoc and is divided into 11 sub-districts, each with its own identity and personality. In this frontier land a number of pioneers have made their mark, such as Pierre Bories of Châteaux Ollieux Romanis, one of the region’s most exciting winemakers. Château Ollieux Romanis has been owned and run by the Bories family since the mid-19th century. The name "Ollieux Romanis" comes from olive trees planted on the land by the Romans and the cellar dates back to 1896. The property is located near the village of Monseret (also famed for its local honey) in the heart of Boutenac cru. Jacqueline and Francois Bories purchased the estate in 1978 from Jacqueline's godmother. In 2001, their son Pierre took it over, leaving his job at the Indosuez Bank. He had the difficult task of restructuring the vines, cellar and wine range.

The Bories family maintains an organic philosophy, uses very few chemicals and harvests at least 80% of the grapes by hand. The Carignan (up to 100 years old) and Grenache vines are grown sand, clay and limestone soil. Hand-picked and placed in small plastic cases, bunches are not de-stemmed and are sorted before going into the tank. Fermentation goes on for just eight days, in order to preserve the fruit, in 100% stainless steel, temperature controlled tanks.

A youthful, dark ruby colour, with a concentrated and powerful nose of plums, blackberries and coffee. It is round and open on the palate with fresh red fruit flavours and a pronounced minerality. The finish is short yet ripe.