The Ruhlmann-Schutz family, already well known for their Alsatian wines, acquired the Château Valmont estate in Peyriac-de-Mer in 2016, seeking to build a Corbières counterpart to their generous collection of Alsace whites. The 30-hectare property sits in the maritime Corbières, close to the Bages lagoons and sandwiched between garrigue scrubland and pine forest, with clay-limestone soils that force vine roots deep underground for extra concentration. The estate has been in organic conversion since its acquisition and holds HVE Level 3 certification, the highest tier of France's environmental standard.
Agassa is made from 100% Grenache, a variety prized in the Corbières for the generosity and roundness it brings to a blend, but here bottled on its own to let its character shine unblended. Grown on the estate's sun-drenched, wind-swept parcels, where the tramontana wind and coastal sea breeze help keep the vines healthy through the growing season, the grapes ripen fully while retaining freshness. Expect a vibrant ruby color, a nose of ripe red berries and garrigue herbs, and a soft, plush palate with gentle tannins and a warm, fruit-driven finish typical of single-varietal Grenache.
The result is a pure, generous expression of Grenache from a family better known for their Alsatian roots, now firmly at home on the Mediterranean coast.