Chateau Helene

Chateau Hélène is listed as a “notable” Corbières producer in Mitchell Beazley’s Languedoc Roussillon book (published in 2002). The estate is named after the original owner Helene Gau. While ownership has changed since her retirement in 2000, the winemaker has remained the same, and the fine reputation that Helene established in the seventies and maintained through her tenure has been upheld. The estate is in the foothills of the Pyrennees Mountains, and the vines are planted on high terraces of chalky clay and pebbly soil. The domaine follows organic practices; fermentation is initiated exclusively by natural yeasts, and the wines are aged in cement enameled tanks. There is very little rain in the region from April to October which keeps yields low naturally.