Among the appellation's discreet whites, the Château Fortia Edmée Le Roy 2023 embodies a luminous vision of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Born from a mosaic of clay soils and rolled pebbles that capture daytime heat and return nighttime freshness, this wine celebrates southern grace in a register of purity. The cuvée bears the imprint of a vineyard of around 2 hectares, cultivated in sustainably farmed practices, where every bunch receives methodical attention. Heir to a historic lineage, this white pays tribute to the Le Roy de Boiseaumarié family, guardians of a pioneering spirit and precise blending craft. The 2023 vintage, harvested from mid-August to the end of October, produced grapes of outstanding quality, yielding fine wines lengthened by a subtle salinity. Here, elegance is never showy. It is perceived in the perfectly judged tension, in the caress of white-flower aromas and in the lingering echo of a finish that invites the table. A terroir white for aesthetes and epicureans that reconciles opulence with restraint.

Blend and winemaking

A blend of Mediterranean varieties, the assemblage pairs Roussanne and Clairette, accented with a touch of Grenache Blanc. Hand-harvest preserves the integrity of the berries, carefully sorted before a total destemming. A gentle pressing followed by precise settling lays the foundation for clarity. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks to protect the aromatic core and maintain a precise freshness. Tank ageing, on fine lees with regular bâtonnage, brings amplitude and texture without oaky disguise. This workshop rigor, both discreet and demanding, signs a chiaroscuro style where southern ripeness meets goldsmith-like precision. The result is a wine with a clean, tasty and deeply legible profile that magnifies the uniqueness of its southern parcels.

Tasting notes

• Appearance : Golden yellow crossed with green highlights, crystalline brilliance, promising contained freshness and an elegant texture.
• Nose : Complex bouquet of small white flowers, delicate honey, ripe exotic fruits with hints of passion fruit and grapefruit, carried by a saline breath.
• Palate : Generous, caressing attack, lovely mid-palate volume, supported by a finely chiselled acidic spine. The finish, long and precise, reveals a saline lift that prolongs the pleasure with distinction.

Serving temperature and tips

Serve between 10 and 12°C in slim white wine glasses to enhance the floral profile and the wine's tension. A brief decanting may be considered in the wine's early years to open the bouquet and round the structure. The expression refines over minutes, gaining breadth without losing poise. Store the bottle in a cool, dark place and ensure measured aeration to preserve the balance between weight and freshness. At the centre of a meal, this white reveals a gastronomic dimension that unfolds over several courses, with remarkable table presence.

Food pairings

• Aperitifs : herb tarts, fish rillettes, airy gougères.
• Starters : scallop carpaccio, delicate ceviche, white asparagus, poached lobster with lemon butter.
• Main courses : creamy free-range poultry, veal with morels, saffron risotto, root vegetable tagine with citrus.
• Cheeses : aged comté, Pyrenean sheep's cheese, ash-coated goat, soft tomme.
• Desserts : thin grapefruit tart, candied citrus, light baba with garrigue honey.

Tasting occasions

Château Fortia Edmée Le Roy 2023 is the ideal companion:

• To celebrate a gourmet dinner where finesse accompanies every dish.
• At a seafood table, when maritime freshness meets southern creaminess.
• As a connoisseur’s gift, an ambassador of a historic estate and refined know-how.

Characteristics

• Name : Château Fortia, Edmée Le Roy 2023
• Appellation : Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC
• Type : White wine
• Vintage : 2023
• Grapes : Roussanne, Clairette, touch of Grenache Blanc
• Terroir : clay soils and rolled pebbles, south of the village
• Farming : sustainably farmed, hand-harvested
• Winemaking : total destemming, gentle pressing, fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, settling
• Ageing : in tank, on fine lees with regular bâtonnage
• Serving temperature : 10–12°C