Vandaag het derde deel uit de (Engelstalige) serie ‘Pays d’Oc as tasted by Elizabeth Gabay MW’. Maak kennis met de onderscheidende karaktereigenschappen van de klassieke en minder gebruikelijke druivenrassen die je vindt binnen de Pays d’Oc IGP. De in Frankrijk woonachtige Master of Wine Elizabeth Gabay proefde de wijnen. Vandaag staat Rolle in de schijnwerpers.
Like all classic wine regions, Pays d’Oc’s character stems from a combination of felicitous climate and soils, and grape varieties attuned to both. But the IGP, which was officially established in 1987, takes all of these ingredients and allows winegrowers to get their creative juices flowing by factoring an astounding 58 permitted grape varieties into the equation. The result is a treasure trove of distinctive, versatile and vibrant wines that can appeal to a vast consumer audience for their flavour, variety and price tags.
A potent combination of eclectic varietals, relevant weather and soils and freedom of expression
Pays d’Oc IGP, the region
The Pays d’Oc IGP region/vineyard spans an extensive area running from the Pyrenees along the Spanish border to the Camargue. It runs parallel with a 200-kilometre stretch of the Mediterranean coastline yet also extends inland over rolling hills and mountain foothills. This 120,000-hectare swathe of vineyards fosters a variety of weather patterns and soil types – from sandy coastal to limestone, schist, clay and gravel further inland – that unleashes huge potential for a selection of classic, native varieties.
Pays d’Oc IGP, the grape varieties
But when you combine them with an eclectic choice of 58 permitted grapes, the possibilities are endless. Some of the varieties such as Riesling or Gewurtztraminer may seem counter-intuitive, whilst others – like Tempranillo and Nielluccio – are a long way from home. All of them, though, have been given the chance to express themselves freely by the region’s creative winegrowers, under the watchful eye and stringent palates of the custodians of the Pays d’Oc IGP designation. The traditional southern varieties that are Grenache, Carignan, Syrah, Viognier and Rolle (aka Vermentino), which double up as appellation mainstays, feature both as stand-alone varieties and in red, white and rosé blends, again ramping up the region’s diversity.
California and its varietally-themed proposition may have been the inspiration for Pays d’Oc IGP, but there is no denying that the region has earned its stripes, and spawned a whole raft of stars..
Rolle as tasted by Elizabeth Gabay MW
We are rolling out a series of articles detailing the distinctive character traits found in Pays d’Oc IGP’s classic, and more offbeat varieties. One hundred wines were tasted and the following articles are a selection demonstrating the diversity found across the region, and the ability of each grape variety to express itself differently depending on its vineyard site – tasting notes credited to Elizabeth Gabay MW. Today it’s about Rolle.
Photo: Wikipedia
Rolle
Rolle (aka Vermentino), a variety which has spread successfully from Sardinia, Tuscany, Liguria and across Provence, has the possibility to show many diverse styles from austere restraint to full-bodied and powerfully oaked. Provence white wines, much of it 100% Rolle, and the relatively small niche production Ligurian Vermentino, make for rare outside comparisons. This allows for Pays d’OcIGP Rolle to express a wide range of its own unique styles.
Rolle under the Pays d’Oc IGP label shows a rich variety of expression for the grape, from the fresher zesty lime, white and green fruit freshness and sometimes a saline mineral freshness from cooler sites or at higher altitude through to the rounder fuller bodied richness of wines from riper fruit and often extended lees ageing which can show ripe apple, honey, nuts and fresh citrus acidity.
Three examples are:
Blanville’s 2019
– this Rolle has similarities to the Ligurian style coming from the mineral soils north of Montpellier and the cooling maritime breezes. Sheltered from the influences of the north by the Montagne Noire and the Cévennes. The 2019 has a stony minerality with zesty lime, salt and white stone fruit. And long freshness.
Marius Blanc 2019, Chapoutier
The Rolle in the Marius Blanc 2019 from Chapoutier comes from clay and limestone soils and has had 5 months ageing on the lees, shows richer, rounder fruit. The 2019 has complex kerosene, apple and honey aromas. Honey, beeswax and white almond fruit with hints of orange peel with vibrant lime acidity and leafy freshness.
Rolle 2019, Domaine des Lauriers
– on yellow clay, is a full-bodied with voluptuous roundness, floral notes and stony citrus length.
LINKS:
Source: agence presse inthemoodpress.com
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