Region: France - Corbieres
Grapes: Syrah
Alcohol: 12.5%
Notes on the Wine
This rose is always 100% Syrah, made in the saignée method, from a 2-hectare parcel that is always picked early (in this instance the first week of September) to feature the freshness of Syrah rather than its power and weight. Undergoing about a three-hour maceration, it is one of the more deeply colored roses we offer. Still, the 2016 is juicy and fresh, with a cranberry edge to its macerated strawberry flavors and a hint of tannin in the finish. The Domaine Faillenc Sainte Marie, situated in the heart of the Corbières district, is a certified organic estate. Jean-Baptiste Gibert is featured in the accompanying photo.
Notes on the Producer
Remains of a Roman winery have been found at the site of the Domaine Faillenc Sainte Marie, a testament to the ancient tradition of winegrowing at that location. The domaine, in its present form, was founded during the reign of Louis XIV by an officer returning from service on the Indian subcontinent. Situated just outside of the tiny village of Douzens a mere 12 kilometers east of the ancient walled city of Carcassonne, Faillenc Sainte Marie has recovered its past allure under the careful guidance of the energetic Gibert family. Faillenc Sainte Marie is a small property, with only eight hectares of vineyards stubbornly clinging to the rocky foothills of Mont Alaric. The vineyards are buffeted by the northerwesterly Tramontane wind or the southerly Autan breezes coming off the nearby Mediterranean, creating an extremely dry climate. The terroir is composed of inhospitable, rocky limestone terraces. Only vines, olive trees and some scraggly brush survive under these harsh conditions. As a result, yields are naturally low. The grapes are strongly marked by their environment and this powerful character shows through in the wines. The charming, quirky personality, sense of humor and creativity of Dominique Gibert, as well as the sensitive and diligent vineyard work of his wife, Marie-Therese Gibert, also mark these wines, both in their style and in their names and labels.
