Clos du Rouge Gorge Vieilles Vignes 2022

Clos du Rouge Gorge Vieilles Vignes is an old-vine blend of Carignan and Grenache from Cyril Fhal, who founded this six hectare domaine in the Roussillon in 2002. The vines run from fifty to a hundred years old and are farmed biodynamically without synthetic products, with vinification by native yeasts under a philosophy of minimal intervention. The Côtes Catalanes sit on schist and granite soils in a warm, dry Mediterranean climate cooled by altitude and the Tramontane wind, conditions that ripen Carignan and Grenache fully while the poor, stony ground holds down yields and concentrates the fruit. The old vines give depth and a savoury, mineral cut that keeps the warmth in check. Ageing runs twenty-four months in 500 litre French oak, the larger format and long élevage allowing slow oxygen exchange that resolves the tannins while leaving little overt wood. As a natural wine it sees little or no added sulphur. The colour is a deep red. The nose shows ripe red berries, plum, black pepper, dried garrigue herbs, earth and a turn of olive. The palate is full but fresh, the tannins firm and ripe, the finish savoury, mineral and long. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees and decant an hour ahead. Good with grilled lamb, beef stew or game.