The Château La Borie Story
This is a beautiful property located in glorious garrigue-scented countryside at the top (northern) end of the southern Rhone. It lies just outside Suze La Rousse. The castle’s origins were as a hunting lodge, covering 115 hectares. Vines were first planted in the early 20C, and today 75 hectares are planted to vines. Roughly a half of the property produces Côtes du Rhône, and half produces Côtes du Rhône Villages. In recent years Suze La Rousse has joined the group of Côtes du Rhône Villages.
The property was bought in 2018 by Raphael Knapp and his family. Prior to this, Raphael had a career as wine importer in California, so he knows the work of the importer as well as the producer.
The estate is in a phase of complete restructuring. The castle is in need of love and attention, (and money!) but the vineyards have taken priority, and the estate is in the process of organic conversion. Soil is a mix of iron-rich sand and clay, some of it deeply coloured red with with more limestone in the Village and Suze la Rousse wines.
Château La Borie Wines
Currently in production are four reds and a rosé. Varieties are Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault. This autumn (2022) will bring the first small harvest of whites, from a new plantation of mixed white varietals : Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Picpoul and Clairette
All wines are aged in concrete for a year before bottling, and show an excellent Southern Rhone, grenache-dominant typicity. But they are not over-blown, over-ripe or over-alcoholic, registering, mostly between 12.5% and 13.5%. All are supple. Tannins of the 2019s are very well done: creamy and silky.
The rosé, a mix of grenache and Syrah is a delilghtful Provençal style.
Cinsault has a short maceration and a thrilling light fruitiness. Almost ‘primeur’-like in style, it’s a perfect light red for chilling.
Rosé
| Description | Year | Tech sheet |
|---|---|---|
| La Borie Rosé | 2021 |
Red
| Description | Year | Tech sheet |
|---|---|---|
| Cinsault | 2021 | |
| Côtes du Rhône | 2019 | |
| Côtes du Rhône Villages | 2019 | |
| Côtes du Rhône Villages, Suze La Rousse | 2019 |
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