Domaine Gardiés Mas las Cabes Rouge, Côtes du Roussillon 2023
A smooth and generous red blend with soft tannins and fruity notes of wild berries layered with aromatic notes of violet, liquorice and olives.
The Mas las Cabes vineyard nestles in the foothills of Corbières, surrounded by aromatic garrigue, where the black schists of Espira de l’Agly, combine with the limestone of the scrubland imparting characteristic finesse. 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 vines are naturally low-yielding, producing just 30hl/ha. The region is characterised by the eight different types of wind that blow across the vineyard, one day out of three, the mighty Tramontane, a dominating northerly wind, sweeps through the region. These drying winds help keep vineyards healthy, 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.
The grapes underwent traditional vinification, with maceration taking place in stainless steel vats to extract the fruit flavours and fine tannins. Fermentation took place with selected organic yeasts, the wine underwent light, daily punching down of the cap to ensure the desired level of extraction. Half of the wine was aged for eight months in tank, to retain the freshness and characteristics of the terroir and half in French oak barrels for subtle complexity.
| RRP | £18.75 |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Alcoholic strength | 13.5% |
| Country | France |
| Region | Roussillon |
| Subregion | Côtes du Roussillon |
| Grapes | Syrah 60%, Grenache Noir 30%, Carignan 10% |
| Body | C |
| Contains sulphites | Yes |
| Vegetarian | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Milk | No |
| Eggs | No |
| Organic | Yes |
| Biodynamic | No |
| Closure | Agglomerated 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.
