Our Growers:

Catherine et Nicolas Gélis

Chateau Montauriol

Chateau Montauriol has been involved in winegrowing for over 5 centuries. The property originally belonged to the knights of the Order of St John of Jerusalem; the wines from the property accompanied the knights in their attempts to conquer the world from the infidels. Bought in 1789 by a lawyer, M. Saint Plancat, the property remained in the hands of the Plancat family for 7 generations.

Catherine and Nicolas Gélis purchased the property in 1998 and own 40 hectares of vines divided into 2 distinct small islands: the plain, which comprises about 15 hectares, has a clay soil which produces fine, complex wines, and the undulating hillside, about 20 hectares, where red mullet alternates with big pebbles to bring power and concentration to the wine. With such a wide variety of soil types, the Gélis family can obtain, from the same grape variety, an interesting aromatic diversity to make their different cuvées. They also have excellent drainage which means that they can avoid water stress and make use of deep roots, which is synonymous with great quality wines. They let the natural yeasts present in the vines work rather than using any commercial yeasts in their winemaking and they only use organic fertilizers in the vines.

Chateau Montauriol Tradition rosé: This rosé comes from the mixing of the property’s best parcels. It is composed of 70% Négrette and 30% Syrah. The nose is fresh and fruity (little red fruits) and the whole is surprisingly well balanced between fruitiness and acidity, with aromas of acacia and bitter almond predominating. Use this wine as an aperitif or with grilled meats. It also goes well with seafood and salads or exotic, Indian or Asian foods.

Chateau Montauriol Tradition rouge: This wine comes from vines which are from 10 to 30 years old. The wine ages for approximately 16 months in vat and rests for at least 3 months after bottling. The assemblage is: 60% Négrette, 15% Cabernet sauvignon, 15% Cabernet franc and 10% Syrah. In the nose, the wine is velvety, with notes of red fruits. In the mouth it is round, structured, with generous but supple tannins and with the finish dominated by the Négrette. The Tradition rouge 2003 won the coveted coup de Coeur from the Guide Hachette 2006. Nicholas Gélis says of the wine: This is a fruity wine, very round, which expresses well the typicity of our cépage, the négrette, but which also possesses a certain complexity. The wine has aromas of puff pastry, silky matter in its attack as well as full and harmonious.” The wine goes well with grilled meats, salads, fish and, in fact, most foods.

Chateau Montauriol Mons Aureolus rouge: The vines are the best parcels of the domaine, averaging 15 to 35 years, and produce a complex, powerful and well-balanced wine. The wine is aged in oak barrels for 12 months and is an assemblage of 50% Négrette, 25% Cabernet sauvignon, and 25% Syrah. The nose is powerful and velvety, with nuances of ripe fruits, oak, spices, coffee and cocoa. The robe is a deep red with reflections of garnet. Guide Hachette 2006 says of this wine: “It is full-bodied, well-rounded and hearty and develops a long time with well-blended tannins.” The wine goes well with fowl or with cheese.

Chateau Montauriol Caprice d’Adrien rouge: From old vines on the Montauriol hilltop in gravel soil, the resulting wine has a complex nose and is fruity, woody, with animal and scrubland tones. It has an exquisite attack of fruit in the mouth, remarkably dense and complex. The finish is perfect and peppery. The wine goes well with meats, fowl and cheeses.

Website: http://www.expressions-terroir.com/