{"id":33939,"date":"2022-10-25T19:16:13","date_gmt":"2022-10-25T17:16:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/?p=33939"},"modified":"2022-10-26T16:30:27","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T14:30:27","slug":"corbieres-chateau-de-lastours-wines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/2022\/10\/25\/corbieres-chateau-de-lastours-wines\/","title":{"rendered":"Let’s taste a different Corbi\u00e8res facet with the Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours’ wines"},"content":{"rendered":"
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..on top of the domain, many wind turbines<\/strong> complete this panorama, with green energy<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The less we can say about Lastours<\/strong>, is that their vines<\/strong> are on sloping grounds..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We start our Aude wine tour with the Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours<\/a>, located in a charming territory in the heart of this department. A hotspot for wine tourism today, the wide territory of Lastours has always been a land of stopover in the heart of the Corbi\u00e8res territory at the dawn of the first millennium. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The vineyard estate of Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours is spread over 850 hectares, where stands a great biodiversity, colliding with generous vines. Adding to this, a respectable amount of 4000 olive trees stand never far from vines and along a local vegetation, offer a dormer over a garrigue<\/em> natural framework, between the Mediterranean Sea and the Corbi\u00e8res zone. On top of that, you could as well live the Lastours Experience, thanks to a wide raceways network of mountain r<\/b>oad and of<\/b>f-<\/b>road, beneath the hills. <\/strong> By AP<\/em><\/p>\n

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..while some cuv\u00e9es<\/strong><\/em> pursue a certain tradition in amphorae<\/strong><\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Such an incredible view over this wild Corbi\u00e8res<\/strong> valley..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As far as we know, some garrisons<\/strong> were stationed in the settlement of this Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours<\/strong> and a fortress<\/strong> even offered a panorama over the rural roads<\/strong>, reaching the Domitian<\/strong> way. In order to welcome any traveler, the Castrum de Turribus<\/strong><\/em> was then built (photo credits: AP).  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Unless it became over time the Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours<\/strong>, referring to its watchtowers which overlooked the Domitian<\/strong> way at this particularly dangerous place. From the 13th century until the French Revolution<\/strong>, these lands of polyculture<\/strong> (timber, cattle, cereals, vines) were supervised by three families of viscounts from Narbonne<\/strong> who were rich lords who lived very comfortably around the castle<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
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..the owner of the domain Franck Allard<\/strong> in front of the sculpture<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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If you ask to visit the cellar<\/strong>, you would have some surprises<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Confiscated in 1791 but sold in 1801, Lastours<\/strong> gradually started to host as elsewhere in the Corbi\u00e8res<\/strong>, countless vines during the 19th century. In this case, two successive families, the Calas<\/strong> and the Martins<\/strong>, both keen on botany<\/strong> and agronomy, paid many efforts to develop the growing wines<\/strong> of their property, notably with the employment of grafting<\/strong> methods. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

From 1940, Lastours<\/strong> became the property of the writer Louis-Pierre Lesstringuez<\/strong>, before bein revived in 2004, thanks to the arrival of a family<\/strong> composed of wine<\/strong> enthusiasts. Their goal was to make this beautiful abandoned land<\/strong> great again, particularly with the implementation of organic<\/strong> practices, parcel<\/strong> selections, energy<\/strong> savings and of course wine tourism<\/strong>. <\/div>\n
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..while overlooking those Mediterranean<\/strong> landscapes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Always a good moment to cheer up<\/strong> with your best friends..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
For your information, a specific effort was carried out by the Allard<\/strong> family who eventually collaborates nowadays with Thibaut de Braquilanges<\/strong>, a native winegrower<\/strong> from the region, proud of a long international experience<\/strong>. Therefore, his actual mission<\/strong> remains to promote, helped with his entire team, the wines<\/strong> and activities of Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours<\/strong>, both in France<\/strong> and abroad (photo credits: Lastours).<\/div>\n
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In its wide surface, the Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours<\/strong>, particularly since the arrival of the Allard<\/strong> family, has obtained a High Environmental Value<\/strong> classification which has been attributed by the Ministry of Agriculture <\/strong>and even certified <\/strong>in organic farming <\/strong>since 2020. Therefore, the different vines<\/strong> of the exploitation are cultivated within the respect of a certain sustainable agriculture<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
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..maturing under the shiny metallic  Patrick Chappert-Gaujal<\/strong>‘s artwork.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A wide wine<\/strong> range dedicated for anyone’s mood..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, each year, a couple of sheeps<\/strong> mow the exponential grass around vines<\/strong>, while eliminating any weeding<\/strong> need and naturally enriching the surrounding soil<\/strong> with their waste. Otherwise, bees<\/strong> are as well employed, since they are also essential for the floral pollination<\/strong>. That’s why, the domain<\/strong> has decided to set up beehives<\/strong> from 2019, completed with the launching soon of a Lastours<\/strong> honey.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

This responsible<\/strong> behavior is also visible in the production process<\/strong>, notably through an eco-friendly<\/strong> approach. With the use of contemporary aging barrels<\/strong> in a green winemaking<\/strong> cellar, the random impact on environment<\/strong> tends to be limited as much as possible. For instance, everything related to natural enlightment<\/strong> is privileged and even temperatures<\/strong> are controlled thanks to efficient insulation<\/strong> and ventilation<\/strong>.  <\/div>\n
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..that’s why most of their wines<\/strong> could get along any culinary speciality.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Such a mixed and enlightened underground<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Without forgetting that the several cellars of the Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours<\/strong> are even equipped with modern devices<\/strong>, combining the latest technology<\/strong>, essentially in terms of design and ergonomics. This juice<\/strong> rolling works so well that this domain<\/strong> is able to reach approximately 450,000 bottles per year. Indeed, those unique wines<\/strong> reflect the true spirit of a real Mediterranean<\/strong> terroir<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Starting from this basement, we invite you to explore the different treasures of this Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours<\/strong>. Thus, its several wines<\/strong> are mostly recognized for their aromatic<\/strong> complexity and freshness. Many vintages<\/strong> are available, whether you opt for red<\/strong>, ros\u00e9<\/strong> and more recently white<\/strong> wines. Their grapes<\/strong> are born and evolve in the heart of a sunny scrubland<\/strong>, before being aged in oak barrels<\/strong> for some of their references. Depending on your mood and your experience, there should be at least one wine<\/strong> (or more) able to seduce your senses<\/strong>. <\/div>\n
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..a tasty cuv\u00e9e<\/em><\/strong> full of very fresh red fruits<\/strong> notes, enhanced by a hint of green pepper<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Observe this pure expression of a real clay-limestone<\/strong> terroir<\/em> on which the plot is located..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Among the wide variety of premium wines<\/strong>, let’s focus on their Optimus<\/strong> cuv\u00e9e<\/em> 2019<\/strong>. This vintage is fully composed of the best local grapes<\/strong> of Carignan<\/strong> variety, without any sulfur<\/strong> added and was even aged during one year in amphorae<\/strong><\/em>. Indeed, in this plot<\/strong>, which is over fifty years old, grapes<\/strong> evolve with a rare balance, a high alcoholic degree<\/strong> and a low pH<\/strong>, all those elements designing the key features of this sulfur-free<\/strong> cuv\u00e9e<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Here, grapes<\/strong> are manually harvested<\/strong> and this wine<\/strong> is obtained by following a method of integral vinification<\/strong>. Thus, fermentation<\/strong> and maceration<\/strong> take place directly in barrels<\/strong>, which are vertically placed. For your information, this method<\/strong> allows a precise vinification<\/strong> in small volumes and allow the expression of tannins<\/strong> without masking the inner aromatic<\/strong> structure. <\/div>\n
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..unless these walls<\/strong> are composed of ancestral stones<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Enjoy the comfort of a modern firehouse<\/strong> in the cottages<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In fact, a particular hygienic<\/strong> care is operated at every stage of the juice<\/strong> production and especially during the one-year aging in amphora<\/strong>, before fining this wine<\/strong> with organic eggs<\/strong> from a regional farm<\/strong>. Apart from this and still located in the heart of the estate<\/strong>, settled between vineyards<\/strong> and scrubland<\/strong>, the Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours<\/strong> offers a set of B&B<\/strong> accommodation where you could enjoy a pleasant panorama<\/strong>. Organized around the 2 typical villas<\/strong> called “Laur\u00e8de et Alad\u00e8res”<\/strong><\/em>, they wear a contemporary design<\/strong>, equipped with wide bay windows<\/strong> and sometimes exposed stone walls<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

For instance, 12 rooms<\/strong> are proposed with a magnificent view of the Valley<\/strong>. Those private spaces<\/strong> hold reversible air conditioning<\/strong>, a private shower room<\/strong>, TV<\/strong> and free Wi-Fi<\/strong> access. <\/div>\n
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..on those wooden<\/strong> tables, with of course a glass of Lastours<\/strong> wine!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A wonderful and cosy dining hall<\/strong>, ready to welcome you..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Apart from this, don’t miss the regional menu<\/strong> proposed by the restaurant La Bergerie<\/strong>, open from Thursday noon to Sunday noon. In this vaulted stoned restaurant<\/strong>, you could appreciate some market menus<\/strong>, prepared by the chefs David<\/strong> and Renaud<\/strong>. A good opportunity as well to discover the random wines<\/strong> from the property<\/strong>, associated with fine dishes<\/strong>, served in an authentic framework<\/strong>. In this real trip<\/strong> back in times, with those vaulted ceilings<\/strong>, and a bright overview<\/strong> about the different ranges proposed by the domain<\/strong>. Whether you opt for a Vin Biologique<\/strong>, a Grand Vin du Languedoc <\/strong>or even the Bergerie de Lastours<\/strong> (with AOP Languedoc<\/strong> for the ros\u00e9<\/i><\/b>, starring Grenache<\/strong> and Cinsault<\/strong> and an AOP Corbi\u00e8res<\/strong> for the white<\/strong> wine, featuring Roussanne<\/strong> et Vermentino<\/strong>), you could find the right wine<\/strong> for your lunch<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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..another 2020 vintage<\/strong>, for carpaccios<\/strong><\/em>, fine fishes<\/strong> and even cheeses<\/strong>; such as Comt\u00e9<\/strong> and Maroilles<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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This 2021 organic wine<\/strong> is partially fermented in oak barrels<\/strong> for a great finesse<\/em><\/strong> and white fruits<\/strong> notes..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Cuv\u00e9e<\/em> Le Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours<\/strong> may be conserved for some years, with a white AOP Corbi\u00e8res<\/strong> version, composed of Roussane<\/strong> and Vermentino<\/strong> grape varieties, along a red AOP Corbi\u00e8res<\/strong> edition, with Syrah<\/strong>, Grenache<\/strong> and Carignan<\/strong> elements, aged for 12 months.<\/p>\n

In another hand, the Grande R\u00e9serve Rouge AOP Corbi\u00e8res<\/strong> holds notes of Syrah<\/strong>, Grenache<\/strong>, Carignan<\/strong> and Mourv\u00e8dre<\/strong> grapes, from more than thirty years old vines<\/strong>, in the heart of clay-limestone<\/strong> and stony<\/strong> hillsides, exposed to a certain rising sun<\/strong>. Submitted to a maceration of around 4 weeks, this juice reveals blackcurrant<\/strong> and raspberry<\/strong> fruits on the nose, with an elegant style<\/strong>, full of melted tannins<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours<\/strong><\/a>, 11490 Portel-des-Corbi\u00e8res (France) \/ Phone : 00 33 (0)4 68 48 64 74. More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>. <\/div>\n
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  We start our Aude wine tour with the Ch\u00e2teau de Lastours, located in a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":34326,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,1095],"tags":[1138,1139,1102,18,20,1108],"class_list":["post-33939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gastronomy","category-occitania","tag-chateau-de-lastours","tag-corbieres","tag-languedoc-wine","tag-narbonne","tag-occitania","tag-winery"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33939","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33939"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33939\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34613,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33939\/revisions\/34613"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}