Winemaker Notes
An interpretation of a multifaceted terroir, Alba is the expression of Ollieux Romanis' old plot of Grenache, rocked by sun from dawn to dusk.
The result meets expectations. Alba Rouge reveals a whole new facet of its traditional grape varieties and highlights their fluidity and silky feel on the palate.
Blend: 60% Grenache Noir, 40% Cinsault
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Corbières Boutenac Alba comes from vines ranging from 50 to 70 years old planted on sandstone soil, with fairly limited yields. A 60/40 blend of Grenache Noir and Cinsault, it offers lots of black and red fruit, spices, floral notes, and salinity. Medium to full-bodied, light at first, and structured on the finish, it remains elegant, lively, and long on the palate, while still showing plenty of reserve. This elegant, supple, very terroir-driven red draws a pure line on the palate.
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James Suckling
A racy red cinsault and grenache blend showing spiced dark cherries, blueberries, white pepper and dried lavender. Juicy, medium- to full-bodied on the palate with tightly wound tannins that grow from the center palate. Spicy and focused with a pure and textured finish with lots of raspberries.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
The Corbières AOC, established in 1985, is the largest in the Languedoc, and represents the South of France in transition. Though viticulture here dates back to the Romans, only within the last twenty years have Corbières wines begun to reclaim their reputation. Approved for reds, rosés, and whites, the region's vineyards cover a wide variety of elevations, soil types, and exposures. Hilly terrain and the Atlantic Cers wind moderate the Mediterranean heat, giving the wines balance and complexity; the best will go ten years or more in the cellar.
Reds represent 88% of the AOC’s production and are an assemblage of the sun-loving grapes of southern France. Carignan’s briars, Grenache’s berries, Syrah’s cherries and Mourvèdre’s plums allow for a wide range of styles, which are often influenced by the wild herbs of the garrigue. Corbières rosés, though only 9% of production, are serious wines and the small production of Rhône-variety whites are fresh and sea-influenced.
With eleven sub-appellations, Corbières is an AOC in the process of refinement. Corbières-Boutenac attained Cru status in 2005, one of only five in the Languedoc to achieve this highest ranking.