Terres de Fagayra
Marjorie and Stéphane Gallet – the founders of Roc des Anges – made sweet wines at Terres de Fagayra that defy every preconception. In 2008 they bought three and a half hectares in Maury, with 66-year-old vines on schist and calcareous schist. Biodynamic, spontaneously fermented, minimally sulphured: Vins Doux Naturels of uncommon freshness.
The Maury Project
When Stéphane Gallet began secretly searching for vineyards in Maury in 2008, he had a vision: a Vin Doux Naturel that didn't taste of Grandma's liqueur cabinet. His wife Marjorie, who grew up near Côte-Rôtie and was already a celebrated winemaker at Roc des Anges, was on board at once. What they found exceeded their expectations: parcels on schist and calcareous schist, where cooler temperatures and adequate rainfall create ideal conditions for elegant sweet wines.
They christened the three and a half hectares "Les Terres de Fagayra": a separate project under the Roc des Anges umbrella, but with its own identity. The vines, 66 years old on average, yield a mere 20 hectolitres per hectare. Small volumes, plenty of substance – the same principle that shapes their dry wines in Montner.
Biodynamics Without Compromise
From 2011 the Gallets farmed biodynamically, with Biodyvin certification. The grapes – Grenache Noir for the reds, Grenache Gris, Macabeu and Grenache Blanc for the white sweet wines – are picked early to preserve floral and citrus aromas. In the cellar, a studied minimalism prevails: spontaneous fermentation in used wooden barrels, no bâtonnage, no fining, just 30-50 ppm of sulphur at bottling. The result: wines that stay taut and fresh despite their sweetness.
Maury: The Underrated Appellation
Maury lies in the Agly valley, sheltered by imposing limestone massifs. The dark schist soils store heat, while the altitude and the Tramontane wind bring cool nights. These conditions produce sweet wines that are vibrant and complex rather than heavy and clumsy. With every vintage, the Gallets showed that Maury deserves better than its reputation as the sweet sideshow of Roussillon.
One Couple, Two Domaines
Marjorie, born in Grenoble in 1977, and Stéphane, from Normandy, met at the agronomy school in Montpellier – and fell in love while out riding. In 2001, when they were just 23, they founded Roc des Anges. They have since sold a majority stake in Roc des Anges to Thibault Ponthier, who is taking the estate forward after a transition period. Marjorie is regarded as one of the most gifted winemakers in Roussillon; her wines combine Catalan power with Burgundian finesse. Terres de Fagayra is their counterpoint to the dry mainstream: wines for moments that call for something special.
Hors d'Âge: The Pinnacle of the Range
The Maury Tuilé Hors d'Âge marries years of barrel ageing with the vitality this site makes possible. "Tuilé" describes the brick-red colour that comes from oxidative ageing; "Hors d'Âge" means at least five years of maturation. The result recalls dried figs, walnuts and caramel – yet it is never heavy, always carried by the mineral drive the schist soils impart. Mas Amiel, the other great house in Maury, works with similar elegance.