Lot presentation

IGP Côtes Catalanes Roc des Anges Australe Marjorie et Stéphane Gallet 2020

The wine

Made from Serine (a close cousin of Syrah), this cuvée comes from vines planted on a schist terroir rich in clay. Marjorie and Stéphane Gallet almost pulled up these plants, since it was taking a long time for them to perform well – close to 14 years! This was the time needed for the vines to push their roots into the deeper layers of the soil. Today, these vines produce a tactile wine, full of finesse. The tannins are soft and velvety and the nose gives off delicious notes of dark fruits and spices. The yields are very small, a shame for us! We recommend pairing this wine with meat-based dishes. And in term of ageing, this cuvée can be kept in the cellar for around 10 years.

About the Producer Roc des Anges

This domaine, established in 2001 by Marjorie Gallet, has a very evocative name. Located in Montner, in the Roussillon, it boasts 25 hectares of old grape varieties (Carignan, Grenache, Maccabeu, and Syrah) which exude depth and character. Struck by the Roussillon region’s “violent nature”, and charmed by the diversity of its terroirs, she is forging ahead with her husband Stéphane, motivated by the clear conviction that “nature is fundamental, the place confers its energy to the wine, the Roussillon light brightens without burning”. Biodynamic principles are applied in order to produce wines in her image, “at once strong and elegant”. Although the region experiences high summer temperatures, the grapes remain unscathed. The presence of old schist allows the vines to develop long roots and tap cooler depths. Yields are limited to 17hl/ha, making these wines intensely concentrated. Since 2008, Marjorie Gallet has been assisted by Stéphane and they tend the parcels organically (having achieved certification in 2011) and biodynamically. In the cellar, the aim is to retain as much of the freshness of the fruit as possible using simple but precise ageing techniques. This fine, innovative domaine is definitely one to check out.

Detailed characteristics