CHATEAU GLEON MONTANIE
CHATEAU GLEON

Jean-Pierre and Philippe Montanié
11360 Durban Corbières
Tél : +4 68 48 28 25 - Tél International : 33 4 68 48 28 25
Fax : +4 68 48 83 39 - Fax International : 33 4 68 48 83 39

---

BACKGROUND

The origins of the Domaine de Gléon estate can be traced back to ancient times. Evidence of this lies in the many Gallo-Roman and Visigoth remains (Gaufresenque pottery, pre-Romanesque chapel). For ten centuries the estate belonged to the Treille-Gléon-Durban-Narbonne family. Gléon castle guarded access to the High Corbières. It was besieged by the Spanish in 1503. The last Marquis of Gléon sold the estate to the ancestors of the current owners in 1861. Since then, the Gléon castle farm has been run by the Bonnes family, and latterly by the Montanié family, handed down from father to son. There have thus been six generations safeguarding the prosperity and quality of the castle's lands. The first "bottling" dates back to the end of the 19th century.

The Estate lies at the gateway to the High Corbières, in the canton of Durban, attached to the village of Villesèque des Corbières, at the entrance to what is known as Paradise Valley. It covers 303 ha/750 acres, including 50 ha/150 acres of vineyards.

A9 motorway. Between Narbonne and Perpignan. Exit at Sigean, and take the D 611 to Portel and Durban. 7 Km west of Portel, you will find the entrance to the estate on the left. Immediately after crossing the bridge, turn left.

Terraces and hillsides, south-facing. Clayey-limestone soil from the Secondary (Jurassic, Trias) and schists.

Dry Mediterranean climate (average annual rainfall: 450 mm); main rains occurring in March and November; minimum temepratures: 4ºC in January and 19º in July and August; maximum temperatures: 11ºC in January and 30º in July and August.

The vines are 20 years old on average.

• Red and rosé Corbières: 41 ha/100 acres.
  • Syrah 20%
  • Grenache 23%
  • Mourvèdre 6%
  • Carignan 37%
  • Cinsault 14%
• White Corbières: 4 ha/10 acres
  • Malvoisie (Bourboulenc) 100%
• Paradise Valley Vin de Pays 3.5 ha/8.5 acres
  • Merlot 22%
  • Cot 78%

The vineyards are located in the Durban wine-growing region, renowned for its subtle, complex red wine, with its supple and extremely expressive tannins.

Philippe Montanié is in charge of the wine-making operations, advised by an oenologist, Robert Déjean.

The dates when the different plots are harvested are worked out after maturity inspections; all the grapes are picked by hand.

The Syrah and Grenache grapes are destalked; the other red varieties are vinified by whole grape carbonic maceration.

Maceration periods are lengthy; pressing is carried out with two Vaslin horizontal presses.

After cold settling, the bled rosé and the white wines (direct pressing) undergo fermentation at low controlled temperatures.

Philippe Montanié pays very close attention to producing aromatic wines that are sutle and complex, and as natural as possible (limited use of SO2 is made).

The red wines are blended in late winter and stored in enamelled concrete vats in cellars that are half underground, obviously making it possible to effect good temperature controls.

The rosé and red wines are bottled during the winter months. Part of the red Corbières is transferred to oak casks for between one and two years.