Domaine Gardiés Les Millères, Côtes du Roussillon 2020
Ripe, dark-berried fruits and hints of spice are balanced by graphite and a lovely freshness.
The Domaine Gardiés vineyards nestle in the foothills of Corbières, where the black schists combine with the limestone of the scrubland and impart the soil with its characteristic finesse. The Grenache and Carignan old vine are situated against the cliffs, opening out on a clay and limestone soil, which imbues the wines with elegance. 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 low-yielding vines produce 30hl/ha. The region is characterised by the eight different types of wind, which blow across the wine growing area. 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 underwent two weeks’ maceration in concrete tanks, which retained the varietal characteristics and freshness. Fermentation took place with natural yeasts, followed by 12 months' maturation, of which 50% was in 600 litre French oak barrels and 50% in concrete vats.
| RRP | £22.95 |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13.5% |
| Country | France |
| Region | Roussillon |
| Subregion | Côtes du Roussillon |
| Grapes | Grenache Noir 30%, Syrah 30%, Mourvèdre 25%, Carignan 15% |
| Body | C |
| 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.
