Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarie (1890-1967)
was born in a military family in Northern France. He was educated as a lawyer
but had to participate in World War I. He got several marks of honour for great
courage as a pilot.
After the war in 1919 he married Melle Bernard Le Saint the owner of
Chateau Fortia.
At that time the wine producers went through a critical period not only in Chateauneuf du Pape but all over
France. The wine
production was nearly at point zero after the war. The workers had served in the
battlefields and the war economy had decreased consumption of wine. It was a
period of stagnation in all sectors of the economy.
The most visionary wine producers in Chateauneuf
du Pape were aware that something had to be done to secure the reputation of their
wines and to make the wine growers more independent in relation to the
negociants. They decided to make Baron Pierre Le Roy de Boiseaumarie
the leading figure in achieving these goals. With his military and juridical
experience he was the right choice. He accepted to be the leading figure with
these words:
"I would like to on condition that you are
the first to give the example of honesty and discipline...'',
The proposals from Le Roy and his fellow
producers had an enormous effect on the appellation rules today - in France and all
over the
world.
You are only allowed to call a wine Chateauneuf du Pape if the vines are from
exact bordered areas.
You must only use allowed grape varieties.
The methods in growing practise are to be controlled after specific rules.
The wine must have a minimum degree of alcohol.
Min. 5% of the wine has to be discarded.
These rules - and some more - are still valid today.
In Chateauneuf du Pape the rules are perhaps more part of the minds than in many
other areas, because it was the ideas of their forefathers. It is a part of
their heritage.
Today the third generation of descendants of Baron Le
Roy own the property.
It works that way, that some of them are sharing a company running the
building and cellars and some owns part of the fields and sell the crop to
S.A.R.L Fortia.
Since 2004 Pierre Pastre has been manager. His wife Chantal is a grand child of
Baron Le Roy. Until he came to Fortia he had leading positions in the big
cemistry firm Hoechst.
Chateau Fortia make wines from 30 ha. AOC Chateauneuf du Pape of which 3 ha are
with white varieties.
Wines
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvée Tradition
2016: 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah og 10% Mourvedre.
Aged in foudres for 18-24 months.
Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvée du Baron
2016: 45% Grenache, 45% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre.
Aged in foudres for 12-18 month.
Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve
2016: 80% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre.Matured in for 12 months.
Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Cuvée Edmée le Roy
2018: 60% Roussanne, 30% Clairette, 10% Grenache Blanc
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