Château de Rouanne is a historic estate with a 12th century medieval castle, situated on a classified Roman site located in the southern Rhône Valley. The name of the estate comes from "Rugius", which is said to be the name of the original Roman owner. The estate totals 177 acres (72 hectares), including 153 acres (62 hectares) of vines. Château de Rouanne was purchased by Louis Barruol, owner and winemaker of Château de Saint Cosme, in May of 2019. Barruol sees enormous potential in Château de Rouanne, having worked with the previous owners for years as a source for some of his négociant wines. “It reminds me a lot of Saint Cosme when I took it over in 1992. It’s an unknown sleeping beauty waiting for a vigneron to truly love it.”
The vineyard of Château de Rouanne is a unique single block, planted entirely with 50+ year old vines, which are a selection massale of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The ancient terroir is comprised of limestone and sandy marl soils dating back to the Pliocene epoch.
Located at the bottom of the Rouanne hill, the Guérin lieu-dit delivers a distinct interpretation of the estate’s unique vineyard. This 1.5 hectare plot showcases a different soil type: reddish clay strewn with limestone pebbles, which is clingy when it rains. The profile of the resulting wine exudes a feminine elegance: Guérin provides a beautiful and remarkable contrast to the power of Les Côtes and the majestic grandeur Rouanne et les Crottes.
Tasting Notes
Guerin offers a truly captivating personality: complex and charming, with a mesmerizing softness. Beautiful flavors of marzipan, blackberries and wild violets marry with the characteristic salinity and mineral freshness of the Rouanne vineyard.
Food Pairing
The distinctive freshness and saltiness of this Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre blend makes it easy to pair with both rustic and sophisticated dishes. The smooth, red-fruit character of the wines make it a great choice for tomato-based dishes such as ratatouille, while the richness from the Syrah also allow it to pair with lamb, venison or beef.