Winemaker Notes
Domaine Boudau is a traditional family domaine located in Roussillon inland from Perpignan and Rivesaltes, at the entrance of the Agly Valley. The domaine was created in the 1920's by Hippolyte Boudau, and originally made the great vins doux naturels of Roussillon: Rivesaltes and Muscat de Rivesaltes. Today the estate covers 50 hectares mainly planted with Grenache, Syrah and Carignan. The Boudau family has some plots of very old-vine Grenache which produces rich and concentrated wines. All vines are grown without the use of any weed-killers. A Southern wine-growing area (the most southerly in France) on the Mediterranean coast a few kilometres from the Spanish border, Roussillon benefits from outstanding climate conditions and terroir. The parcels, on chalky clay soils, benefit all year from the Tramontane (the dominant, very dry, north-westerly wind), and a hot, very sunny Mediterranean climate helpful for vine-growing. The vines average 40 years of age and are manually harvested, sorted by plot and desteamed. This if followed by a very traditional maceration for 15 days with daily punchdowns.
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.
Although it is a region predominantly recognized for fortified, vins doux naturels (a type of sweet wine), Roussillon is also ideal for the production of dry red, white and rose wines. To encompass all the dry wines from the surrounding region that are not the vins doux naturels of Banyuls, Maury and Rivesaltes, the appellation of Côtes du Roussillon was created in 1977. It covers the eastern half of the Pyrénées-Orientales (the eastern side of the Pyrenees Mountains) and lower lands of Roussillon. Côtes du Roussillon includes complex soils of schist, limestone, gneiss and granite and climatic conditions that support many grape varieties.
Côtes du Roussillon red wines are blends made from Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and smaller amounts of Carignan, Cinsault and the lesser known, Lledoner Pelut. Rosé wines come from the same varieties, as well as may include Grenache Gris and Macabeo. White wines from Côtes du Roussillon are Grenache Blanc and Macabeo with small amounts of Marsanne, Roussanne and Rolle (aka Vermentino).