THE SOULA - Red 2015
Le Soula is located in the Fenouillèdes region, northwest of Maury in Languedoc-Roussillon . In the 1990s, Roy Richards and Mark Walford imported Gérard Gauby 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 high 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 Gauby 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 over from Gérald and is now at the head of the Soula team. The 22 hectares of vines have been organic since the beginning and certified since 2008 in biodynamics .
Soula Rouge 2015 is made from 69-year-old Carignan vines (53%) , 23-year-old Syrah vines (37%) and 37-year-old Grenache vines (10%) . They are grown on soils of decomposed granites and black shale between 350 and 600 meters above sea level. During vinification, maceration in whole bunches lasts from 9 days to 14 days depending on the grape variety. The aging lasts 22 months in half muids and 228 liter barrels (55%), 2,000 and 3,000 liter casks (36%) and stainless steel vats (9%) .
Grapes: 53% Carignan, 37% Syrah, 10% Grenache
