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| This is one of the top domains in its region, producing exceptional dry and sweet wines. The Domaine des Schistes is regularly singled out for their superb wines by Revue de Vin de France and GaultMillau.
Located in the village of Estagel, Domaine des Schistes belongs to Jacques Sires but is now run by his son Mickaël. Though the Sires have been farmers for many generations, it was only when Jacques started bottling their wines in 1989 that Domaine des Schistes was truly born. Mickaël is young but very experienced. He made wines in New Zealand before coming back to the home vineyard. He brings youthful energy and ideas, a willingness to change and improve but is solidly grounded in tradition. Jacques is still involved but is used more as a sounding-board than as a source of new ideas. This combination of personalities works well to produce some excellent wines. Everyone knows about the Mistral, that strong, constant wind that literally gets sucked down through the Rhone Valley vineyards to the Mediterranean Sea. The Roussillon has its own strong wind and it is even more constant, blowing over 300 days per year. It blows from the Northwest and is named the Tramontane (across the mountain). Speeds range from 35 to 80 miles per hour. It functions just like the Mistral, keeping the grapes clean and dry and in fact dehydrates the grapes a bit, intensifying flavors. Schiste’s vineyards grow Grenache Noir, Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris, Vermentino, Syrah and Maccabeu, a white variety becoming more popular in this area (it is used extensively in white Rioja). Of all these varieties Syrah needs the most water, a challenge in this dry, hot area which has been hit by droughts in the last few years. For this reason they tend to plant the Syrah on north-facing hillsides to preserve the freshness of the fruit. The drought of the last few years has been impacting the yields of the vineyards, especially in 2007, in which the vines had half the number of flowers and thus half the crop. |
| Domaine des Schistes Website |
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| Maury - La Cerisaie |
| 100% Grenache Noir. The grapes are coming from 40 year old vines located in selected parcels. They are hand-harvested and yield a tiny 25 hl/ha. The mutage (addition of alcohol) takes place during maceration. Aged for 5 months in barrels. 16% Alcohol. |
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| Muscat de Rivesaltes |
| This superb muscat is made from 80% Muscat Petits Grains (the type of Muscat grape which yields the most refined wines) and 20% Muscat d'Alexandrie. The schisteous soils and ridiculously low yields (20Hl/HA) produce wines of intensity and aromatic complexity.
The grapes are hand-picked by successive passes through the vineyard at 14 degrees potential alcohol. The Muscat d'Alexandrie undergoes carbonic maceration for 5 days. The Muscat Petit Grains, after a light pressing, is fermented under temperature control. |
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| Rivesaltes Solera |
| Vin Doux Naturel Small yields (30HL/Ha) of Grenache Gris (at least 40 year old vines) produce this intense and interesting wine. The grapes are picked at a slightly overripe level, around 15 degrees. The mutage is affected during the fermentation after a light pressing, then the wine is aged on the fine lees. Aging in large casks, 500 liters, for a minimum of 10 years. The wines undergo an oxidative process in cask, with young wine replacing the older wines being removed (the solera process). This amber-colored wine has delightful aromas of dried fruits and caramel. The rich and generous palate has complex flavors of fruits, honey and nuts. |
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| Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Rosé - Le Bosc |
| Syrah 60 %, Macabeu 40 %. Macabeu is northern Spain’s most planted white grape. It shows up in white wines as well as red wines. It is a superb variety for these terroirs as it is a white grape that maintains acidity even in hot, dry climates. It migrated to France and became the 8th most widely planted white grape by the end of the 1980s.(northern Spain’s most planted white grape) The Aoc is Vin de Pays Cotes Catalanes, from the area of France which is right smack on the Spanish border in an area called French Catalan. They share the heritage, the culture and even the Catalan language (still spoken) with their brethren to the south in Spain. The wines from this region are as much Spanish as they are French. From a single vineyard, called Le Bosc, which in the local Catalan language means "the woods." A rosé of grapes grown on ferrous schiste (or shale), from 30 year old vines. Yields are kept to a low 40 hectoliters/hectare, and the harvesting is manual. The grapes are de-stemmed before a 36 hour cold maceration, and then pressed. Selected yeasts are added, followed by one month of fermentation. The wine is raised on fine lees and bottled the following spring. This rosé has all of the rich and spicy Syrah characteristics balanced beautifully by the vivacity of the Macabeu. The blend makes this wine at home with all kinds of grilled red meats as well as fatty fish like tuna and sardines and any dish with pronounced herbs and spices. Website |
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| Les Terrasses Blanches - Cotes du Roussillon Blanc |
| This cuvée of Grenache Blanc (70%), Grenache Gris (20% ) and Maccabeu (10% ) is produced from vines planted in 1960 on a terroir of rocky limestone sprinkled with shale, at 180 meters altitude and with full eastern exposure. Yields are a very low 25 hectoliters/hectare. Grapes are manually harvested at the moment when their alcohol potential reaches 12.5°/13°. The hand-picking preserves the integrity of the grape bunch, which, by preventing oxidation before pressing, ensures aromatic purity. The grapes are pressed directly, without maceration, but slowly and at low pressure. The resulting must then undergoes 14 - 36 hours of débourbage (cold decantation ) followed by soutirage (racking ) into casks that have been previously used 1 to 3 times. Fermentation takes place over a 3-6 week period at 21°-25° C. The wine is raised on its fine lees in the same barrel, with battonage, which keeps the lees in suspension and enriches the wine. The malolactic fermentation is generally avoided in southern French whites, in order to maintain freshness and keep them lively on the palate . The finished wine is then racked into stainless steel tanks a month before bottling. |
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| Côtes du Roussillon Villages-Tradition |
| From a full-south facing vineyard of marl-limestone soils, this rich red wine is composed of 30% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 40% Carignan of low yielding vines. Selected parcels go into this intense wine, from vines aged at least 40 years old. The syrah is vinified with whole cluster fermentation. The grenache is vinified with traditional maceration, destemmed, for 15 days. The carignan is also whole cluster fermented for 14 days. This full, fruit-filled wine tastes like a hybrid of Priorat and Languedoc, which in a sense is true to its region of origin on the Spanish border. |
| Côtes du Roussillon Villages - Coumeille |
| This top parcel often receives the Guide de Coeur. 80% Syrah, 20% Grenache Noir and Carignan. Tiny yields of 20 hl/ha. Aged 22 months (16 months in 220 liters barrels. 14% Alcohol. |
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