25 products
25 products
- Red Wine
- Dry
- Medium Bodied
- 750ml
- 14% alc./vol
Press Reviews
Wine Align
91 points - Sara d'Amato
A biodynamically-grown blend of grenache (40%), syrah (30%) and mourvèdre (30%) from the schist soils of the hilly, coastal appellation of Faugères. A low-interventionist style fermented spontaneously with 10 months of maturation in stainless steel vats and neutral oak. Clean and juicy with lively red fruit and hints of peppercorn, anise, pine needles, and juniper. Silky tannins and some warmth on the finish point to a riper vintage. Notably complex but effortlessly drinkable. Very good length.Tasted in magnum at Terroirs & Millésimes 2024.
- Red Wine
- Grenache, Samso / Carignan, Syrah
- Sustainable, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Residual Sugar: 2 g/l
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 14.50% alc./vol
About the Winery
Clos del Rey
In the foothills of the Pyrénées Mountains, not far from the Mediterranean sea, Clos del Rey is situated in the high altitude hills over the tiny village of Maury. The estate has been owned and farmed by the Montagne family for generations. The vineyard itself is nestled among a protected area of garrigues (rosemary and thyme). The vines of up to 120 years old are allowed to grow natural and untrained, in the old-fashioned way, known as the goblet or bush style. However, it is what lies beneath the vineyard that lends much of the character and complexity found in their wines. Julien Montagne makes complex wines that truly represent his vineyards and his Catalan roots--you can almost smell the sun in the glass.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
91 points - John Szabo
An old vines cuvée of grenache, carignan and syrah from the stony, schisty soils of Maury, historically reserved for fortified wine production in the style of port, this Maury 'Sec' is a concentrated and aromatic, flavourful wine, with a liquor-like essence of blackberry and blueberry fruit, sweet and resinous wild herbs, scorched earth and licorice, and more in a highly satisfying and bold ensemble. Tannins are abundant but coated and softened by high fruit extract, while acids are low but adequate to balance the big ensemble. Great length. Immensely satisfying at the price; drink or hold another 4-6 years I suspect without concern. Tasted September 2022.
90 points - Megha Jandhyala
This is a rich, ripe blend from Maury Sec, an appellation in the Agly Valley in Roussillon that was authorized for the production of dry red wines in 2011. The nose is inviting and appealing, with notes of cherry compôte, black raspberries, garrigue, and a subtle mineral aroma that reminds me of wet cement. It is medium-bodied, with grainy, drying tannins and balanced acids. I really like the lush fruit on the mid-palate that recede gracefully, leaving a subtle bitterness and warmth in their wake. Tasted September 2022.
90 points - David Lawrason
The village of Maury is better known for its sweet 'vins doux naturel'. This dry red based on grenache, carignan and syrah shows the energy, or a certain internal combustion, I associate with the carignan grape. The nose is quite lifted with red fruit (raspberry, plum) some spice and minerality. It is medium-full bodied, sour-edged and firmly tannic with some heat. Quite peppery and meaty (charcuterie) on the finish. The length is excellent. Tasted Sept 2022
90 points - Sarah d'Amato
From a relatively new appellation in the southwestern region of Roussillon designated in 2011 to allow producers to craft dry reds in addition to the more famous Vin Doux of Maury. In the midst of all the sweetness of the region, Clos del Rey makes only dry wines. This plush incarnation features flavours of liquored black cherry, a chalky minerality and tender tannins. Ripe but with a lick of minerality that helps to provide balance along with a welcome degree of bitterness. Some bitterness helps curb the perception of alcohol too. An arresting yet youthfully broody wine. Tasted September 2022.
- Rosé Wine
- Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah
- Dry
- 750ml
- 12.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Maison Idiart
Maison Idiart is a wine négociant based in Bordeaux and established in 2013. Nicolas Idiart, winemaker and founder of Maison Idiart, grew up with a passion for wine, something that he shared with his father and grandfather.
He graduated from Bordeaux winemaking school in Blanquefort at 19 years old. Nicolas' love for Loire wines took him to work in Chinon, Touraine and Muscadet. He also had experiences in Australia and New Zealand. After several years travelling the world, he decided to shift his work in the industry and work in sales, focusing in North America.
At 33 years old, after 7 years working in sales, he decided to go back to winemaking with an artisan approach, making small batches of handcrafted wines.
- White Wine
- Piquepoul Blanc
- Sustainable
- Dry
- Light Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.5% alc./vol
- Red Wine
- Mourvèdre / Monastrell, Syrah
- Natural, Organic, Vegan-Friendly
- Dry
- Full Bodied
- 750ml
- 13.5% alc./vol
Press Reviews
Wine Align
93 points - John Szabo
Clos Sauveplan is a blend of about 3/4 high density planted mourvèdre and the balance in half-century-old syrah from the lieu-dit of the same name, a plateau in the Faugères AOC in southern France. It's showing beautifully at the moment, rich, redolent of fresh black forest fruits, blackberry coulis, wild violets and cracked black peppercorn, really quite a tour de force. The palate is broad but fresh, impeccably balanced and so lively considering the warm vintage, declared at 12.5% alcohol but coming across as riper and denser than the numbers would imply. Tannins are silky and resolving nicely, and length, depth, and ultimately complexity, are excellent. One of Brouca's best to date I'd say; drink or hold a half dozen years - the stuffing augurs well for development. Tasted January 2024.
92 points - Michael Godel
The source for this co-ferment of mourvèdre and syrah is a “clos,” meaning an isolated walled vineyard in a lieu-dit called “Sauveplane”, plateau at the eastern limit of the Faugères appellation. A mix of 20 and 40 year-old vines, volcanic soils, some whole cluster fermentation. Exotically spiced, sweetly volatile. Low-level Brettanomyces, so bloody Faugères, exemplary and expected for a wine to speak up on behalf of this particular sense of place. The kind of Languedoc red that sommeliers and naturalists will share and swig with reckless abandon while those who have never tried this style and origin may be left to wonder in confounded disarray. Just know that this is very correct for producer, style and place. Drink 2024-2027. Tasted January 2023.
91 points - Sara d'Amato
From old vines farmed with minimal intervention on the plateau of "Sauveplane", a lieu-dit on the eastern edge of Faugères. Spontaneously co-fermented syrah and mourvèdre grapes are left unfined and unfiltered in the low-interventionist style of Fredric Brouca. Subsequently aged 13 months in oak resulting in very gentle spice and pleasantly mellow tannins. Offers a notable sense of place and varietal character. Relatively speaking, the wine is quite clean and still exhibits plenty of fresh fruit and very good length. Tasted January 2024.
- Red Wine
- Grenache
- Organic, Sustainable
- Dry
- 750ml
- 14.5% alc./vol
About the Winery
Domaine Peter Sichel
Tucked away in a hidden valley in a remote corner of the Languedoc-Roussillon lies a truly special place: the village of Cucugnan. Historically, there was much wine produced here, given its isolated location, but gradually the local people moved away to the towns. There are now just 130 people living in the village. As the vineyards were left mostly abandoned, the local flora and fauna were permitted to thrive. Cucugnan became a unique area, full of biodiversity, which shines through in the rare plants and flowers that grow there today.
Peter Sichel (of the Bordeaux négociant family) first discovered this valley on a road trip with a friend in the 1960s. He was so spellbound by the place that he bought a house there and, in 1988, planted a vineyard. The project grew, albeit slowly, but the arrival of Peter’s thoughtful and environmentally inspired grandson, Alexander Sichel, has turned the Domaine Peter Sichel project completely around.
Since 2019, Alexander has converted the estate to organics and biodynamics, achieving organic certification in 2022. Furthermore, he is committed to supporting polyculture in and around the vineyards, even enlisting the help of a PhD programme from a Dutch university to identify the incredible array of plant life in the vineyard.
Alexander’s grandfather planted the vines between 30-40 years old. Parcels of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, and Roussanne lie mostly on the best slopes of the valley. Starting from 350-500 metres’ altitude, these slopes have very little topsoil; the roots go almost straight into the bedrock. The viticultural team here has done much work to focus on the unique characteristics of each parcel to express the terroir of this stunning valley in the most authentic way.
Press Reviews
Wine Align
96 points - David Lawrason
This is an incredibly suave, elegant and delicious grenache with bags of sweet fruit, but never sinking into soupiness. It is from 100% organically grown old vines grown in clay-marl mountain soils. Expect a gentle wave of candied red fruits, fine white pepper, spice and fresh herbs. It is medium weight, almost silken in texture, with equally dispersed warmth, sweetness and tension. Tannins are a bit firm (age it two years?). The length is outstanding. Tasted January 2025
95 points - John Szabo, MS
Such lovely fragrance and perfume here from this pure grenache from the Terre Rouge parcel at c. 500m elevation, a standout from the excellent Sichel range, certified organic and in conversion to biodynamics. The palate is so juicy, succulent and well balanced, smooth and supple but energetic and lively. Saliva rains down on the palate from salinity and umami, while tannins are fine and light, a total paradigm shift from the often heavy and alcoholic versions produced in many parts of the Rhône Valley, here carrying 14.5% alcohol with style and grace. I admire the delicacy, finesse and balance, and the exceptional length. Biodynamic farming on a clearly prime piece of terroir, a beauty, and such a happy new discovery for me. Best from 2026. Tasted January 2025.
94 points - Michael Godel
Terre Rouge suggest red soils, or clay terroir rich in an element like iron, always great for syrah and here for grenache. The source is Sichel’s appellative “monopole” of Cucugnan IGP inside southerly Corbières and yet so opposite as a style to that of the carignan. Bigger, grander and fruitier, with quite an increase in alcohol (to 14.5 percent) that seems more inline with a Languedoc red. That said the grape and its terroir enact the truth and that would be for a more obvious, what you see is what you get red. Mystery, subtlety and fantasy are not part of the plan or mix and still this is intriguing stuff. Also the kind of red to appeal to lovers of the Southern Rhône, especially Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe, equally gorgeous if also less complicated. Drink 2026-2032. Tasted January 2025.
94 points - Sara d'Amato
This captivating grenache hails from a distinguished site at 500 meters above sea level, where clay soils are embraced by the surrounding forest. Richer in hue than its lighter blended counterpart, Cucuniano, the Terre Rouge offers an alluring and expressive aromatic profile. Beyond its fragrant notes of red berries and soy, the palate reveals deeper layers of black fruits, tinged with hints of licorice. It stands out with a notable sapidity and a more defined structure than the norm, its tannins angular yet refined, offering an elevated sense of depth. Excellent length. Organic and biodynamic certifications are underway. Tasted January 2025.