Chateau de Valcombe White 2021

Location:

Slopes varying between 3% and 5%. Southern exposure, overlooking the ponds of the Camargue. Total surface area of 63 ha.

Poor, leached, slightly acidic soils; deep cover of rolled pebbles at a depth of 4 to 15 metres.

Grape varieties : 

AOP Costières de Nîmes - Roussanne 70%, Marsanne 30%.

Blend:

Roussanne 70%, Marsanne 30%. The age of the vines used for this cuvée is 15 years.

Particularities:

Very thin layer of limestone, a practically unique case in Costières, gives the wine an obvious freshness and minerality.

Vinification :

Picking and direct pressing of the grapes, whole bunches. Decanting at 10°c then fermentation for 15 to 18 days at 12/13°c then 13/14°c in cement vats.

Ageing:

3 months on the lees in cement vats, then sub-tasting and bottling. No wood is used during maturation.

Tasting notes:

Light golden colour. Floral nose. Very mineral on the palate, a full, fleshy and fragrant wine. Long and very fresh finish, with citrus notes.

A FAMILY HISTORY

In 1740, when the Ricome de Surville family bought the Chateau de Valcombe, it was just a large area of bare land and a building used as a hunting lodge. Over the years and through the generations, the estate was transformed into a real agricultural and wine-producing operation. The Château itself was completed in 1860. 

The first major award was given to Valcombe wines at the 1855 Universal Exhibition in Paris. Then again at the 1873 World Exhibition in Vienna. These awards can still be seen in the Château's tasting room.

THE PRESENT & THE "SUSTAINABLE" COMMITMENT

Dominique Ricome made this orientation towards Syrah a decisive choice when he took over from Charles in 1979. With his wife Bénédicte, they continue this demanding march towards high quality wines and develop the surface area planted with vines, which increases from 40ha to nearly 75ha, with a majority of Syrah. Valcombe's wines, until then always sold in France, began to cross the oceans to North America and Asia. Dominique took an important place among the winegrowers of the region and was one of the founders of the Appellation known today as "AOP Costières de Nîmes".

THE COMMITMENT TO "0 RESIDUE

The idea of offering wines without any chemical residues began to take shape in Basile & Nicolas' mind in 2006. They then started a new stage with the implementation of Organic Agriculture in 2009. Then began a more global reflection on the integration of the farm itself within its environment. This reflection will lead to the "High Environmental Value" certification in 2018 which accompanies the work of production in Organic Agriculture.