Winemaker Notes
Smooth but assertive, Cuvée Prestige is the big brother of Ollieux Romanis' Cuvée Classique. It is distinguished by its aging in barrels, giving this white its characteristic smoothness.
Blend: 60% Roussanne, 25% Grenache Blanc, 15% Marsanne
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of four flagship grape varieties from the south of France (Marsanne, Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and Grenache Gris), the 2022 Corbières Cuvée Prestige Blanc was aged in barrels but has developed harmonious flavors. A crisp white, the woodiness blends into a full-bodied, precise, generous, light juice with beautiful texture, offering a bouquet of dill, citrus zest, bergamot, pear, and salinity. Long on the finish and harmonious, this gastronomic red will be a delight at the table.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Crafted from vines planted on clay and limestone soils, the 2022 Corbieres Blanc Cuvee Prestige offers up aromas of spring flowers, lime, white orchard fruits and spices. Medium-bodied, round and supple, it's enrobing with a delicate, juicy core of frame and a long, saline finish. Perfectly crafted, this white wine from Languedoc could age gracefully over the next 3-4 years. This is a blend of 75% Roussanne, 15% Marsanne and 10% Grenache Blanc.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
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.