Domaine Gardiés Clos Des Vignes Blanc, Côtes du Roussillon 2022
A rich and creamy blend with ripe stone fruits, refreshing citrus notes and a touch of elegant spice through to a long, balanced finish.
The Domaine Gardiés vineyards nestle in the foothills of Corbières. The vines are grown in the old plots on the Génégals, in clay-limestone soil, located on the heights of Vingrau. This is where the 75-year old white vines flourish and produce low yields of 30hl/ha of concentrated juice. The climate is Mediterranean, the hot, arid summers encouraging the vines to struggle and send their roots deep into the soil in search of nutrients, resulting in complex wines. The region is characterised by the eight different types of wind that blow across the wine growing area and, one day out of three, the mighty Tramontane, a dominating northerly wind, sweeps through the region. These drying winds help keep vineyards in healthy condition, reducing the need for pest control or other human intervention. Domaine Gardiés is certified organic, the vines are hand-harvested and biodiversity in the vineyard is encouraged.
Each variety was vinified separately. The grapes were immediately pressed to retain the freshness. The juice was vinified with wild yeasts in French oak, followed by maturation for 12 months in 600 litre demi-muids and 20 hectolitre barrels with gentle bâtonnage to impart texture.
| RRP | £33.50 |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13.5% |
| Country | France |
| Region | Roussillon |
| Subregion | Côtes du Roussillon |
| Grapes | Grenache Blanc 60%, Grenache Gris 35%, Macabeu 3%, Roussanne 2% |
| Dry/Sweet value | 1 |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | Yes |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Cork |
Situated at the foot of the Pyrenees in the village of Tautavel, Domaine Gardiés has been a family vineyard for eight generations. Jean Gardiés took over the property from his father in the late 1990s, and subsequently crafted his own cuvées from their naturally low-yielding vines. He now works alongside his son, Victor, together they passionately cultivate their 35-hectare estate vineyard, which sits across two terraces based on clay-limestone and black slate soils in Vingrau and Tautavel – two of the finest villages of the Côtes de Roussillon. In 1990, they purchased Mas Las Cabes, a 15- hectare estate on the Espira de l’Agly terroir. All the vines are certified organic and are cultivated with the utmost respect for the rugged and wild nature of the Roussillon region. Understanding and nurturing the soils is at the heart of the Gardiés philosophy, and as a result, they produce delicate wines which are expressive of the terroir and are characterised by complexity, depth, structure and elegance.
