Winegrowers’ Portraits Saint-Polycarpe
Ideally located in the foothills of Saint-Polycarpe, the domain Baron’Arques total 47 hectares of vines out of the current 130, benefitting from a diversity of soils (clayey and chalky, sandy, and gravely and sandy), from a microclimate under Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pyrenean influence, from biodiversity and seven different varietals which endow its wines with character and complexity.
From 1998, date of purchase of the domain De Lambert with its impressive 1900 mansion, the technical team of the company Baron Philippe de Rothschild restructures the vineyard and rebuilds the cellars.
A qualitative work of the vines and the wines for more than five years is necessary. Only five historical hectares are kept. At first, the time to reorganize the estate, the Domain asserts its presence in Languedoc thanks to a partnership with Vignerons du Sieur d’Arques for the production of red wines. A selection of grapes supplied by the latter and vinified in the highest tradition of Bordeaux' oenology, attracts critics and tasters: Baron’Arques is born and gives its nobility to the eponymous Domain.
In 2003 the quality of the wines is recognized and jointly the appellation Limoux red is created. It is Year 1 and the revival of the domain … Baron’Arques. “We do not have the claim to reproduce what we develop at our parent company near Bordeaux. We simply plead for the AOC Limoux red, which our production benefits from, being recognized for good as a Grand Cru of Languedoc”, general manager Vincent Montigaud underlines.
The vineyard is composed of 70% Atlantic varieties: Merlot (mainly), Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and of 30% Mediterranean varietals: Shiraz, Malbec and Grenache (decreasing). For the dry white wines, only Chardonnay, since the vintage 2009, is planted and worked like a grand Burgundy.
For a permanent care for quality, the technical managers of the domain Baron'Arques voluntarily chose high planting density: 7,500 stocks/ha on 10 hectares of the estate and 4,600 stocks/ha on the other plots, whereas most of the vineyards of the region total 3,000 stocks/ha. The harvest is made manually in crates of 12kg, grapes and wines are worked by gravity. At last, after ageing, bottling is operated on the estate like in Bordeaux.
I have been lucky enough to taste in situ La Capitelle* of the domain Baron’Arques, second wine with more Mediterranean accents with a 6-month ageing in barrels, Domaine Baron’Arques from 2007 to 2011 (12 months in barrels, 25 to 50% new ones depending on the vintage), with a very pleasant change in style from the 2008 … and my favourite: the 100% Chardonnay.
Now the domain is a real reference in Languedoc wines and asserts itself proudly among the company Baron Philippe de Rothschild's range of prestigious wines.
* Dry-stone huts in the region
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