Château de Fontenelles

The History of Fontenelles Castle

The Château de Fontenelles vineyard is located in the commune of Douzens, on the Montagne de l'Alaric, in the heart of the Cathar country, near Carcassonne.

The estate has belonged to the Tastu family for five generations. Thanks to the perseverance of the successive winegrowers, the very small estate has continued to increase its size to reach 40 hectares today.

It is managed since 1993 by Thierry Tastu and his wife Nelly.

The Château de Fontenelles vineyard

The terroir of Château de Fontenelles belongs to the Alaric mountain, which offers stony terraces and soils dominated by clay and limestone. The vines benefit from a climate that is split between the Mediterranean climate and the oceanic influence. This results in a warm, dry and sunny atmosphere that allows the vines to enjoy a long vegetative cycle. Moreover, the grapes are cleaned by the Cers. This is a dry wind, coming from the northwest of Narbonne, sometimes very violent, blowing in the Languedoc near the Mediterranean coast. This wind helps to reduce the use of phytosanitary products.

The vineyard of Château de Fontenelles is composed of Syrah, Grenache Noir, Carignan and Mourvèdre. The typicity of the terroir gives the wines unique flavors that are easily recognized by wine lovers of the region.

The wines of Château de Fontenelles

The Château de Fontenelles produces a range of red wines belonging to the Corbières PDO: Notre Dame, Renaissance and Moural de Salomon. These wines have in common an exquisite purple and ruby color, a complex and powerful nose, combining spicy and floral notes, and a harmonious palate, enriched with melted tannins.

The other appellation developed by Château de Fontenelles is the IGP Aude, with a red wine Coteaux de Miramont.

The estate also produces a rosé wine composed by Syrah, named Tenue de Soirée. Finally, the cuvée Poète completes the production of Château de Fontenelles.

Chateau de Fontenelles - Notre Dame - Corbières Appellation

The red wine cuvée Notre Dame, belonging to the Corbières appellation, is the flagship wine of the Château de Fontenelles production. It is made from a blend of 55% Syrah, 25% Grenache, 10% old Carignan and 10% old Mourvedre.

The wine has a deep color with purple reflections that seem to dance. The nose is at first abrupt and wild, then softens with aromas of violets, plum jam and a delicate note of oak, due to the fermentation that ended in the barrel.

The attack is ample and generous. The sensations are exacerbated by the roundness and volume of the mouth. The subtlety of the flavors is highlighted, thanks to the patinated tannins, whose roasted flavors evoke cocoa.