WINE OF THE WEEK: Château Ollieux Romanis Racine Blanc 2025, Corbières, Languedoc, France
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
£11.95–£13.90, The Wine Society, Les Caves de Pyrène, Vinvm
Not something you see very often, white Corbières, but I didn’t pick Château Ollieux Romanis Racine Blanc 2025 for its novelty value. I chose it because it’s a wine that really sings – refreshingly, generously and expressively, with floral and white peach aromas underscored by subtle tropical notes, beeswax and spice.
The blend is Roussanne, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Maccabeu, white grape varieties of the southern Rhône as well as Languedoc and Roussillon, grown here at Château Ollieux Romanis in deep clay-rich Mediterranean red sandstone and poudingue sur grès (smooth, round pebbles and limestone) – soils that encourage the roots to go down deep. Hence, in part, the name Racine ('root').
This large, historic estate (60ha of vines) has been certified organic since 2006 and is farmed biodynamically, with sheep grazing the cover-cropped vineyards in winter, weeding naturally and providing composted manure.
The wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts and minimal sulphite additions and is aged on its lees for three months to add depth and texture.
Château Ollieux Romanis is in the heart of the huge Corbières region in the superior Corbières-Boutenac enclave, the Corbières appellation's only Cru, but, as the Boutenac name applies exclusively to red wines, the white and rosé Racine wines are straight Corbières.
The estate is owned and run by Pierre Bories, together with three other domaines and Artisans Partisans, an arm he created for wines crafted from his own vineyards and those of grower-partners. It has been in the Bories family since 1978 and has been a wine property since the 18th century, having previously been a farm, a priory and a distillery. Its natural springs, still used today, have been known since Roman times.
Racine Blanc 2025 is vegetarian and vegan and pairs well with shellfish, baked and grilled fish (sea bass to mention just one), pan-fried fish with buttery sauces, roast chicken, creamy chicken pies, burrata salads and cauliflower cheese. And if you want a red or a rosé, I can recommend both the red Racine Corbières-Boutenac and the Racine rosé. 13%. Empty bottle weight: 410g.
Château Ollieux Romanis Racine Blanc 2025, Corbières, Languedoc, France
£11.95–£13.90, The Wine Society, Les Caves de Pyrène, Vinvm
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