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La Villasse Côtes du Rhône Blanc Wine
Producer
We had always been convinced of the potential of the Southern Rhône and the idea of making our own wine there had long appealed... In 2010, the Liberty team spent several months out in the area, looking for the right vineyards and the right partner. La Villasse is a joint effort between Liberty Wines, Matt Thomson and his colleague Graeme Paul, as well as Thierry Caymaris, of the Cave de Cairanne. The name La Villasse refers to an ancient Roman site close by to the vineyards, where vines have been grown since Roman times. The grapes are taken from the Cairanne appellation, known for its fantastic quality potential, but from soils which are heavier in clay, giving more forward, earlier drinking wines that are therefore classified as Côtes du Rhône.
Vineyards
The main vineyards are on river terraces to the west of the village of Cairanne. The alluvial, clay soils give a slightly more forward, earlier-drinking style and thus, while the wines retain all the class of Cairanne, they qualify for Côtes du Rhône status. Part of the grapes are taken from the warm Garrigue in the south of Cairanne, giving juicy fruit intensity on the mid-palate.
Vinification
La Villasse is made from traditional Rhône varieties, and handled very gently, with little intervention, allowing the fruit to speak for itself. The white was fermented at cool temperatures, between 13 and 14 degrees, which has given an aromatic lift and finesse that is not always common from the Southern Rhône. The wines is packaged in screwcap, to capture the freshness and fruit purity.
Tasting Notes
The white Cotes du Rhone is a bright yellow in colour with youthful aromas of peach, pear and white flowers. The palate is medium-bodied with refreshing acidity and appealing juicy stone fruits.
| Vintage |
2010 |
| Grape varieties |
65% Grenache Blanc
|
| Region |
Côtes-du-Rhône , Southern Rhône |
| Winemaker |
Graeme Paul, Matt Thomson |
| Closure |
Stelvin |
| Alcohol (ABV) |
13% |
