$130.00
Cyril Fhal's Clos du Rouge Gorge originates from Latour-de-France, renowned for its schist and gneiss terroirs in Roussillon. Cyril acquired 5 hectares of old vineyards in 2002, later expanding to 7.5 hectares. Previously, he worked with Mark Angéli and Charlie Foucault in the Loire, and served as chef de cave at Mas Crémat in Roussillon. Preferring traditional methods over the Roussillon-Villages appellation's regulations, Cyril focuses on natural vineyard balance for finer, more complex wines. He avoids tractors, using a motorized cultivator and horse, and plants legumes between vines for humidity retention. Latour-de-France’s vineyards, the driest non-irrigated in the world with 250mm annual rainfall, require careful attention to vine needs. Cyril’s yields are minimal (10-20hl/h) to not say some of the lowers we know, with gentle fruit handling, low extraction, and élevage in demi-muids and foudres, without fining or filtration, and minimal sulfur use. His range is fantastic and we are glad we could get enough bottles to put the white in this package!
Why do we like it?
The ’Blanc’ is made 100% from 70 years old Maccabeu, planted on hillsides of gneiss and orthogneiss. The wine is aged with no batonnage in a new 500L barrel made by famous Austrian tonnelier Stockinger and several 4 years old barriques. Delicacy, precision and terrific freshness characterise this wine, lot of citrus and white fruits with herbal notes of lemon thyme, anise, lavender, mint, a mineral cut and saline with gentle bitters on the long finish. Unfined and unfiltered, very low sulphur. Wonderous and to be paired with a poultry dish such as a roasted chicken flavoured with lemon and thyme! My appetite is rising just writing those lines!
Grape Macabeo (Viura)
Country France
Region Roussillon
Vintage 2021
