Chemins Vignerons

Roussanne :
probably gets its name from the light-brownish russet cast of its ripe berries.
Main features : of average vigour, this vine variety ripens in September. A delicate variety with considerable finesse, it prefers warm, stony well-drained soils, poor and arid hillsides, or stony, silt-limestone soils. Roussanne gives irregular yields and tends to uneven and late ripening, has little resistance to powdery mildew and rot and is easily damaged by wind and drought. Roussanne for two primary quality: unique aroma and bracing acidity.
œnological potential : Roussanne produces extremely elegant, delicate and complex wines with floral perfumes (honeysuckle and iris). The aroma of Roussanne, not as overtly fruity as some types, can suggest wild flowers or herbal tea. Roussanne will perform well using barrel fermentation and oak aging and some winemakers release varietal most of the time in blending. Its wines and blends seem to hold up well with cellaring and may be enjoyable a decade past the vintage.

Use : Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Saint-Péray (it may be blended with Marsanne in these Appellations), Châteauneuf-du-Pape (often blended with Grenache white , Clairette and Bourboulenc), Côtes du Rhône Villages whites, Langurdoc and Provence.