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Les Celliers d'Orfée
53, Avenue des Corbières
11200 ORNAISONS
Phone : 00 33 4 68 27 09 76
Fax : 00 33 4 68 27 58 15

AOC Corbières : terroir of Boutenac, Lezignan and Fontfroide.

Our "appellations"

" Vin de Pays de l'Aude " represents 30% of our production in red and rosé with traditional grape varieties of black Carignan, Cinsault, black Grenache and Caladoc.

" Vin de Pays d'Oc " also represents 30 % of our production and is expanding with the introduction of ‘improving’ grape varieties such as Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet for the red wines, Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Chasan for the white, Marselan and black Grenache.

" AOC Corbieres and Corbieres Boutenac " Boutenac represent 40% of our production, which amounts to 21, 000 hls composed mainly of 5 grape varieties.

There are three grape varieties which are typical of the "appellation " - black Carignan, Cinsault and black Grenache - to which are added the variety Rhodanien Syrah and, to a lesser degree, Mourvèdre.

Our vineyards stretch over three terroirs:

Corbières-Boutenac

Boutenac is the only terroir recognised by the "appellation" Corbières. This terroir is in the north-east part of the Corbières, less than 20 km to the south-west of Narbonne. The average altitude is between 80 and 100 metres above sea level at the highest point.

Boutenac is a "hot" terroir from which the black Carignan grape variety is inseparable. There is a minimum 30% of this grape in our assemblages or blends. Rainfall is slight and the dry season is very long. However, ripening conditions remain favourable up to the end of September and in some years, up to the middle of October.
This complex terroir is composed of stony terraces and limestone plateaus surrounded by pine woods and garrigues, with soils of molasse with round pebbles, quartz and sandstone.
These deep soils mean that in summer, even in drought, the ripening conditions are excellent.

The black Carignan, which has necessarily to be picked by hand when perfectly ripe, gives wines that are strong and deeply coloured.
The black Grenache gives volume, body and smoothness.
The Syrah brings scents of red fruits and spices.
The Mourvedre gives wines which are mature and jammy.

The wine is matured in the production area and cannot be put on the market until after the 31st December of the year following the harvest (15 months minimum).