#Hectoliter Gallery

[perfectirishgifts]

Château De Figuières In Beautiful La Clape, A Wine Estate In Transformation

New Post has been published on https://perfectirishgifts.com/chateau-de-figuieres-in-beautiful-la-clape-a-wine-estate-in-transformation/

Château De Figuières In Beautiful La Clape, A Wine Estate In Transformation

La Clape, near the town of Narbonne, is a small wine region in the Languedoc. It is a stunningly beautiful region by the sea and also one of France’s sunniest places. There is always a gentle wind blowing away the clouds. It is a protected nature reserve where people can hike among vines, olive trees, wild orchids and fragrant herbs.

Château de Figuières is situated at an altitude of 150 meters on the limestone plateau of La Clape. The sea is five kilometres away, close enough to cool the vines at night. Alain Bovis, an art gallery owner, came to this little paradise looking for a winery to “live his wine dream”. When he saw Château de Figuières, he knew he had found what he was looking for. The property had no vines at the time, only sheep grazing. The vines had disappeared during the phylloxera crisis 100 years ago. Alain started planting new vines in 1980.

The wild landscape overlooking the sea in La Clape, Languedoc, copyright BKWine Photography

A new chapter began for Alain Bovis and his estate when in 2015 he hired the oenologist Sébastien Martin to “create a new Figuières”. I asked Sébastien how he tackles such an assignment.

“The first steps were about the winemaking”, he says, “which is still under development and improvement” He set about simplifying the winery facilities and, he says maybe only half-seriously, “getting rid of many of the gadgets”.

He takes one step at a time. Every year he introduces a new idea. In 2015, he started with cold maceration pre-fermentation for the red wines, i.e., skin contact at a low temperature before the fermentation begins. This is considered by many to give an enhanced fruit character to the wine. In 2016, he introduced long soaking (skin contact) after the fermentation. Since 2017, this prolonged soaking is made at a warmer temperature, which, says Sébastien, gives a smooth extraction. Since 2019, he does not add sulphites until the ageing phase starts for the reds. He has also started doing bâtonnage (stirring of the yeast lees) for the whites.

Vineyards in La Clape in Languedoc with a view over the Pyrenees Mountains, copyright BKWine … [] Photography

The vineyards are also getting a makeover. Sebastien is renewing blocks he considers too old and is planning to do co-planting, i.e., planting several different grape varieties together in a single plot. He monitors the ripeness of the grapes by tasting. “This”, he says, “allows me to separate the different styles and harvest only the right blocks.” He stresses the importance of careful canopy management to improve airflow and reduce the risk of diseases.

Less spraying to produce sustainably is an integral part of the work. Since this fall he has a green cover in the vineyard that will provide natural fertilizer to the soil. Animals are important. “We get honey every year from their own beehives” They have installed bat houses. Bats love going after the harmful insects. Sometimes they release sheep into the vineyard. “The work in the vineyard is long-term,” says Sébastien, “and is about having healthier vines in the long run.”

Old vine in a vineyard in La Clape, Languedoc, copyright BKWine Photography

Château de Figuières makes white and red wines in two different styles, Tempus and Impetus, as well as a red prestige cuvée called Excelsus. Tempus is a more easy-drinking, Impetus more complex.

The white wines

La Clape has excellent conditions for making white wines. Around 20% of the wines from the appellation are white, which is a lot for Languedoc which is mostly a red wine region. Château de Figuières uses Roussanne and Viognier, grapes that give full-bodied wines, often with floral aromas. An AOP La Clape requires a certain amount of the rare grape Bourbolenc, so the Figuières wines are not “appellation wines” but instead what’s called “IGP” Pays d’Oc which gives more choice in what grape varieties to use.

Tempus ferments in a stainless-steel tank and is kept there for a short time before bottling. Impetus is aged in small oak barrels with bâtonnage. Tempus also gets some bâtonnage in the steel tank, but less often.

Château de Figuières Impetus, La Clape, Languedoc, copyright BKWine Photography

Château de Figuières Tempus 2016 has a delicious nose of white flowers, and there are also almonds and melons. The taste is balanced with a fairly full mouthfeel.

Château de Figuières Tempus 2017 is more expressive with stone fruits but also white flowers from Viognier and body from Roussanne.

Château de Figuières Impetus Blanc 2016 is full-bodied, nuanced, with hints of grey pears. Quite a pleasant personality.

Château de Figuières Impetus Blanc 2017 has ripe fruit on the nose but is very citrus fresh on the palate. Good body and well balanced.

The red wines

The reds are made from Syrah and Grenache. Tempus ferments and ages in 100-200 hectolitres steel tanks. The slightly more expensive Impetus ferments in 50-hectoliter steel tanks and is ages in small oak barrels. The reds follow the appellation rules for grape varieties so they are AOP La Clape.

Château de Figuières Tempus, La Clape, Languedoc, copyright BKWine Photography

Château de Figuières Tempus 2016, AOP La Clape has lovely, fresh fruit, dark fruit mostly, but there are also hints of tobacco. Soft tannins give a certain structure.

Château de Figuières Tempus 2017, AOP La Clape, is quite intriguing. I had at first a notion of volatile acidity, but as it evolved in the glass, there was freshness, a good level of acidity and a juicy fruit that made the wine easy-drinking and at the same time with complexity.

Château de Figuières, Impetus 2016, AOP La Clape has a distinct character of syrah in classic style with black pepper, fresh herbs, structure and a balanced taste.

Prices from the property: red and white Tempus 7.50 euros, red and white Impetus 14 euros, which certainly makes them good value, and the prestigious wine Excelsus sells at 40 euros.

—Britt Karlsson

From Food & Drink in Perfectirishgifts

[kidshectoliter]

Programma najaar 2015 AUTOLOZE ZONDAG 20 september Creatief \  Actief - FIETSPARCOUR atelier INSCHRIJVINGEN | 5€ EN vanaf 30 augustus  + wafelslag en vrij fietsparcour-plezier met familie en vrienden en iedereen die wil   ATELIER van 13u tot 14u en wafelslag en vrij fietsparcour tot 15u !!! LOCATIE | HECTOLITER | Zaterdagplein 17, bxl KORTING VAN 20% VOOR HET 2DE KIND VAN HET ZELFDE GEZIN! <<~~~~<<….////~~~~<<<~~~~<<>~~~~…….<<~~~~~~~~~><>////..<<<……<<~~~~<<… ////~~~..CREATIEVE NASCHOOLSE KUNSTEN ATELIERS Elke dinsdag na schooltijd voor kinderen van 4 tot 12jaar               Elk kind wordt op zijn eigen tempo begeleid in haar/zijn  zoektocht naar een eigen  creatieve wereld. Tijdens de ateliers worden verschillende technieken aangeleerd, zoals verschillende verftechnieken en  collage , beeldhouwen, waarnemingstekenen , …welke technieken en materialen er worden gebruikt hangt af van de leeftijd van het kind en de eigen interesse. We verdiepen ons in het plezier van creatie ! In het motiveren en het stimuleren van de creatieve energie die alle kinderen in zich hebben. In december organiseren we een toonmoment WANNEER | elke dinsdag vanaf dinsdag 8 september tot 8 december 2015. uitzonderlijk geen atelier op di 15 en 22 sept ! en Niet tijdens de schoolvakanties ! Dit atelier zal ook nog in 2016 georganiseerd worden LOCATIE |  Studio Chez Georges , Georges Moreaustraat 66, 1070 Anderlecht UREN | De kinderen kunnen vanaf 15. 20u tot 16.20u gebracht worden , het atelier duurt  tot  17.20u . Kinderen die in de Voorzienigheidsschool (Anderlecht) naar school gaan worden opgehaald op de speelplaats om 15.10u begeleid naar het atelier INSCHRIJVINGEN | vanaf 3 augustus | 65€ BEGELEIDER | Tine Ringelé <<~~~~<<….////~~~~<<<~~~~<<>~~~~…….<<~~~~~~~~~><>////..<<<……<<~~~~<<… In het kader van de KUNSTENDAG VOOR KINDEREN | zondag 15 november organiseren we  een expo atelier  dat door de Finse kunstenaar Jan Anderzén begeleid word LOCATIE | HECTOLITER | Zaterdagplein 17, BXL. Wat gaan we doen ? We maken,  al luisterend naar  experimentele muziek van een nog te bepalen componist , ieder een stuk van het portret van die componist beschrijving van het atelier door Jan Anderzén |“THE COLLECTIVE COMPOSER PORTRAIT WORKSHOP We would like to invite children for a listening party. We will listen to a selection of experimental music and collectively create a portrait of the composer by using a fun and playful chance operation method”               BEGELEIDERS | Jan Anderzén en Tine Ringelé INSCHRIJVINGEN | VANAF 3 OKTOBER | 4€ Voor kinderen van 6 tot 14 jaar 15u tot 16.30u HERFSTVAKANTIE ATELIERS op woe 4 , do 5 , vrijdag 6 november KERSTVAKANTIE ATELIERS op 21, 22 en 23 december Meer info hierover volgt nog ! EN DAN NOG EEN NIEUWTJE VOOR DE KINDEREN DIE OP SINT JORIS KLEUTERSCHOOL ZITTEN | elke donderdag na school organiseert de buiteling in samenwerking met KIDS HECTOLITER een creatief verhalen atelier Begeleider | Tine Ringelé INSCHRIJVINGEN VIA DE BUITELING ! INSCHRIJVEN VERPLICHT ! meer info mail naar | koen@debuiteling.be Kids Hectoliter is nu ook op pinterest! waar je onze inspiratie-bronnen kan op raadplegen op de borden Zalige kinderboeken en Zalige kinderfilms ! https://nl.pinterest.com/Kidshectoliter/ Om in te schrijven stuur gewoon een mailtje naar kidshectoliter@hotmail.com!!!

[kidshectoliter]

Op Stap Met Wonderlijke verhalen !  Atelier voor 3-8 jarigen @ Hectoliter | 15-5-2015