Wines Languedoc Château Ollieux Romanis - Réserve Walser - 2016

Viniou Reviews

Château Ollieux Romanis Cuvée Réserve Walser 2016 is a splendidly expressive red wine hailing from the sun-drenched Languedoc region in southern France. Crafted from a classic blend, likely featuring Carignan, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, this cuvée stands out for its depth and refined character. The 2016 vintage benefitted from an excellent growing season, allowing the grapes to ripen fully while maintaining freshness—a crucial balance for Languedoc reds. The winemaking at Ollieux Romanis combines traditional methods with modern techniques, including careful selection of grapes, temperature-controlled fermentation, and ageing in a mix of stainless steel and oak barrels to achieve both vibrancy and structure.

The Languedoc region is renowned for its Mediterranean climate: hot, dry summers and gentle, wet winters shaped by coastal breezes and seasonal winds. This climate, together with a mosaic of soils—including limestone, clay, and schist—encourages powerful yet balanced wines with distinctive regional character. Once considered merely a producer of bulk wine, Languedoc today is at the forefront of quality-driven winemaking in France, with estates such as Château Ollieux Romanis leading this renaissance by focusing on low yields and respect for the terroir.

Cuvée Réserve Walser 2016 is a versatile wine at the table. Its bold, spicy bouquet—marked by ripe black fruit, garrigue herbs, and hints of pepper—makes it ideal with rustic, hearty dishes such as cassoulet, grilled lamb with rosemary, or beef stews. Mediterranean and Provençal-inspired dishes, like ratatouille or roasted vegetables with tapenade, will also highlight its aromatic complexity. For a regional pairing, a traditional daube de boeuf or confit de canard would be superb.

To best appreciate this wine’s layered palate and supple tannins, serve at 16-18°C. Decanting for 30-60 minutes is highly recommended to allow full expression of its aromas and to soften the structure. Enjoy now or cellar for a few more years to further develop its nuanced flavours.