Maison Albera - 'Ostrea' - Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris - Cotes Catalanes, FR - 2022

Notes from the Winery/Importer

Appellation: PGI CÔTES CATALANES Grape Varieties: 60% Grenache Gris, 40% Grenache Blanc Terroir: granitic arenas and quartz altitude plateau (1700 feet elevation) overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the Roussillon amphitheater. The eroded granite and quartz soils, called "Arènes", are poor, draining, and bring an important aromatic and phenolic concentration to the wine. The Mediterranean Sea provides thermoregulation to its North exposed terroirs. Yield: 50 hl / ha Alcohol: 12.5% Winemaking: short maceration on the skins, direct pressing. Fermented in concrete vats. Aging: 8 months on fine lees in concrete vats Notes: The wines have a maritime freshness, where fresh lemon blends with hawthorn, white pepper and iodine. On the palate, the wines are lively, saline with a real mineral dimension. Matches perfectly with sea food and oysters, or on its own as an aperitif starter !

Notes on the Producer

Fabrice and Alexandre RIEU, winemakers at Maison Albera, are passionate spokespersons in the winemaking history of Roussillon. Their family epic dates back to the 19th century, when their ancestors, from Spanish Catalonia, came to settle in Roussillon, the northern and French part of Catalonia. In 2001, after gaining professional experience in Barcelona and Paris, Fabrice and Alexandre chose to return to Roussillon to take up the torch of their family's wine-growing business. Together, they developed a passion for Roussillon's native grape varieties that draw their roots in the very best terroirs. In 2008, concerned about climate change and guided by the desire to produce fresher wines, they embarked upon a quest for high-altitude terroirs... Thus, on their plateau more than 500 metres above sea level, the harvest often only begins when it has already ended in the plains. Benefiting from cooler temperatures, their grapes undergo a truly natural "cooldown" that preserves their aromas (and organoleptic properties) to their best. Finally, at high altitudes, the more regular and generous rainfall allows their vineyards to protect themselves from water stress.