Chateau Routas
Chateau Routas is situated within the “Coteaux Varois en Provence”, a key appellation of the Provence. This appellation was introduced in March 1993 as a complement to the “Cotes de Provence” created 16 years earlier. The appellation is an enclave of the “Cote de Provence”.
The 290 hectare Estate of Chateau Routas is nestled between the old town elegance of Aix-en-Provence, and the white sand beaches that line the Gulf de Saint Tropez. An altitude of 350 meters provides cooler nights contributing to wines that combine both freshness and grape complexity.
In 2005 Sir David Murray his family took ownership of the property, ushering in a new era for Chateau Routas.
The sustainable farmed estate abounds in the agricultural diversity that is key to vine health. The 290 hectares encompass wheat fields and olive trees, and black truffles stud the earth.
The Estate
The Chateau Routas soil varies dramatically, resulting in small vineyards that are often unusually shaped. Some plots are red as crushed brick, while others are of crumbly grey limestone mixed with bright red stones that bleach in the hot summer sun.
The elevation is among Provence’s highest, providing cool nights that slow the ripening of the grapes, contributing complexity, and dictating harvests that are up to a month later than those nearer the coast.
