Chateau de L’Ou “Rhapsody Blanc” Côtes Catalanes
WHY WE LOVE IT
- Philippe Bourrier is a pioneer in organic viticulture and Chateau de L’Ou is a certified organic farming operation.
- They pay close attention to the life of the soil, allowing good deep development of the roots to promote the best expression of the terroirs.
- Rhapsody Blanc is grown on black Schists soils and is situated at 350m height on Maury terroir.
Varietal Composition: 100% Grenache Gris
Elaboration: Skin maceration of 4 to 5 hours at 5 degrees, vinification and aging in stoneware amphoras.
Tasting Notes: Lots of honeyed lime, tangerine, crushed mint, and obvious chalky mineral nuances emerge from the Rhapsody Blanc, a medium-bodied, vibrant, incredibly refreshing white from this team that has good acidity as well as remarkable purity. Made in a clean, up-front, ready-to-go style, it should evolve nicely for 2-3 years, maybe longer. The purity here is top notch.
PRESS
2020 – 93 Jeb Dunnuck
2022 – 94 – 96 Jeb Dunnuck
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
In 1998, Séverine and Philippe Bourrier bought the 30-hectare estate in one piece, planted with 26 hectares of vines and 4 hectares of olive trees in the town of Montescot in the Pyrénées-Orientales, 10 km south of Perpignan. The entire property was immediately converted to Organic Farming. Today, the estate includes additional terriors in the Haute Vallée de Agly, including in Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet and Caudiès-de-Fenouillèdes. All vineyards are organically farmed.
Chateau de L’Ou was named because of the area’s heritage. “L’Ou” in Catalan means “the egg” in French: it is the named after the property location, because in the beginning there was an ovoid-shaped resurgence of water in the area. The Mas de L’Ou, which seems to have been exploited by the Templars, was a place of passage very frequented by the mule drivers of the region.