Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge

Château des Tours

Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge

Producer
Château des Tours

Country
France

Region
Rhône Valley

Sub-Region
Southern Rhône

Appellation
Côtes-du-Rhône

Farming
Sustainable, Organic

Varietals
65% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 15% Cinsault

Vineyards & Viticulture
Forty hectares of vineyards, situated in the Vacqueyras area a few kilometers north of Sarrians, were purchased by the Reynaud family in 1935. The old maison is flanked on both sides by tall towers (hence Des Tours). Emmanuel took over this château from his father Bernard (Jacques' brother) in 1989. The vineyards are tended with organic methods, manually plowed, harvested much later than other producers, and centered around a reverence for old-vine Grenache.

Soils
Very poor, sandy

Harvest & Vinification
During vinification, each varietal of every vineyard is fermented separately in oak casks, with assemblage taking place in enamel-lined tanks before bottling. Fermentation is allowed to begin naturally with no inoculation of yeasts and the wine is aged in used 600 L oak casks for 18 months.