LE SOULA - Rouge 2009
Le Soula is located in the Fenouillèdes region, north-west of Maury in Languedoc-Roussillon. In the 1990s, Roy Richards and Mark Walford imported Gérard Gauby's wines for the English market. The latter was convinced that the Fenouillèdes vines, located on the heights at the foot of the Pyrenees, benefited from a cooler climate and had real potential to produce high quality wines. He therefore suggested that they form a partnership to exploit these vines. Together, they bought vines in the best sites and an old house in the altitude village of Saint Martin de Fenouillet, located in the heart of the vineyard. The house became Soula's first cellar and from the start in 2001, the red and white wines enjoyed a fine reputation. In 2008, the project had become too big for the premises of Saint Martin. Thus, the cellars moved to the foot of the mountain in the old cooperative cellar of Prugnanes which they restored. Gérald Standley, who had worked in Bordeaux, joined the team, initially, to assist Gérard Gaudy as co-manager and subsequently by managing the estate alone. In 2012 Roy and Mark sold their wine import business to Berry Bros & Rudd and Mark Walford took over the management and marketing of Soula. In 2016, Wendy Paillé, with her extensive experience in vineyard management in the Loire and in the United States, took up the torch behind Gérald and is now at the head of the Soula team. The 22 hectares of vines have been cultivated organically from the start and certified biodynamic since 2008.
The Soula Rouge 2009 is made from 63-year-old Carignan vines (67%), 17-year-old Syrah vines (30%) and 31-year-old Grenache vines (3%). They are cultivated on terroirs of decomposed granite (80%) and shale (20%) between 350 and 600 meters altitude. During vinification, maceration in whole bunches lasts from 8 days to 24 days depending on the grape variety. Aging lasts 21 months at 40% in vats, 20% in casks, 10% in new 500-litres demi-muids, 10% in 500-litres demi-muids of one wine and 20% in older 500-litres demi-muids.
Grape varieties: 67% Carignan, 30% Syrah, 3% Grenache Noir
