We spent our last dinner and night of the
Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
at Hôstellerie du Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf du Pape.
Chef Hugo Loridan-Fombonnet prepared a very special wine-pairing menu for us.
Some of us took an aperitif in the middle of the Châteauneuf du Pape vineyards before dinner.
Hostellerie du Château des Fines Roches
Hostellerie du Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf du Pape is a 4 star exquisite castle hotel. Approaching the hotel takes your breath away. The medieval and Provencal fantasy style castle was built in the 19th century. It sits high on a hill overlooking the Châteauneuf du Pape vineyards, with gorgeous views to the town of Châteauneuf du Pape and as far as to the Luberon.
Hostellerie du Château des Fines Roches was built in the late 1800s by Auguste Constantin. In 1936, Louis Mousset bought the castle including 45 hectares of vineyards and made the property the centre of his extensive wine business and his family home. After the death of Louis Mousset his assets were divided among his three children, Jacques, Guy and Catherine.
The château remains in joint ownership of the Mousset family.
Since a decade or so it has been used as a 4 star Hotel with Restaurant, under the direction of Laurent and Martine Zennaro. They are lovely hosts.
Laurent and Martine Zennaro - A Fairy Tale Castle: You will enjoy a unique stay in this atypical castle. Both fantasy and medieval neo Provencal style, built high on a hill surrounded by vineyards. Our **** hotel enjoys exceptional views of the Papal Palace and the Alpilles, offering timeless moments to rest and relax.
The Fork: Venez goûter à la véritable vie de château. Entourée de vignes et à deux pas du palais des Papes, cette noble demeure vous offre plusieurs ambiances : une terrasse avec une vue exceptionnelle, l’intimité des petits salons comme la bibliothèque ou encore la grande salle et sa belle cheminée. Dans un magnifique cadre où la nature est reine, vous savourez ici une cuisine gastronomique qui met en avant les produits régionaux. La carte s’ouvre même sur la route des épices. Arrosés de vins somptueux de Châteauneuf-du-Pape, les mets sont fins et raffinés. A déguster le duo d'agneau rôti au thym et sa bohémienne de légumes à la brousse de brebis dans son jus parfumé à l'ail.
Winemaking: Château des Fines Roches and Many Other Mousset Family Wines
Today there are three branches of the Mousset family in Châteauneuf-du-Pape who can thank their common grandfather, Louis Mousset, for their status as major landowner and winemaker in Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
First, Jacques Mousset inherited from his father the negociant firm and some estates, but sold off the negociant firm to Cellier des Dauphins in 1996. Today the Mousset family has nothing to do with this firm any more.
Jacques Mousset has retired and his three sons now run his estates. Yann Mousset owns together with his brother Fabrice Domaine de Tout Vent (25 hectares Côte du Rhône). He also runs the wine shop at the Château des Fines Roches. Fabrice Mousset runs Domaine Fabrice Mousset (10 hectares Chateauneuf du Pape) and together with Yann Mousset Domaine de Tout Vent (25 hectares Côte du Rhône). Cyril Mousset runs Domaine de la Font du Roi (24 hectares Châteauneuf du Pape).
Second, Guy Mousset's sons Olivier and Frank Mousset own Clos Saint Michel (15 hectares Châteauneuf du Pape and 12 hectares Côte du Rhône). Frank Mousset has furthermore his own small estate, Domaine des Saumades (2,5 hectares Châteauneuf du Pape).
Third, Catherine, the youngest child of Louis Mousset, married Robert Barrot and today they own Vignobles Mousset-Barrot consisting of three properties: Château des Fines Roches (53 hectares Châteauneuf du Pape), Château du Bois de la Garde (63 hectares Côte du Rhône) and, purchased in 2003, Château Jas de Bressy (4,5 hectares Châteauneuf du Pape). Catherine and Robert's children Amélie Barrot and Gaelle Barrot are now in charge of these 3 estates.
The wines of Clos Saint Michel are made at the cellars of Clos Saint Michel. All other wines of the Mousset family are vinified and aged in the cellars of Château des Fines Roches - separately for each domain.
Aperitif in the Middle of the Châteauneuf du Pape Vineyards
Some of us took an aperitif in the middle of the Châteauneuf du Pape vineyards before dinner.
Wine-pairing Dinner at Restaurant Château des Fines Roches
Chef Hugo Loridan-Fombonnet prepared a very special wine-pairing menu for us.
After a good sleep, we all had breakfast togather and then went to the train station in Avignon. Most of us went to Paris. Some went to Lyon. Annette and I went to Frankfurt.
Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France (Already Released and Forthcoming Postings)
Rhône Valley Tour 2018 by ombiasy WineTours: Wine, Culture and History, France
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Wine-pairing dinner at Restaurant Château des Fines Roches, with Chef Hugo Loridan-Fombonnet
New Year’s Eve at Château des Fines Roches in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, France