The Soula - Red 2021
Le Soula is located in the Fenouillèdes region, northwest of Maury in the Languedoc-Roussillon . In the 1990s, Roy Richards and Mark Walford were importing Gérard Gauby 's wines for the English market. Gauby was convinced that the Fenouillèdes vineyards, located high up in the foothills of the Pyrenees, benefited from a cooler climate and had real potential to produce high quality wines. He suggested that they form a partnership to farm these vineyards. Together, they purchased vineyards in the best sites and an old house in the high altitude village of Saint Martin de Fenouillet, located in the heart of the vineyards. The house became the first winery of Le Soula and from the start in 2001, the red and white wines enjoyed a good reputation. By 2008, the project had outgrown the premises in Saint Martin. So, 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 it was Mark Walford who took over the management and marketing of Soula. In 2016, Wendy Paillé , with her extensive experience in vineyard management in the Loire and the United States, took over from Gérald and she is now at the head of the Soula team. The 22 hectares of vines have been managed organically since the beginning and certified biodynamic since 2008 .
The Soula Rouge 2021 is made from 40-year-old Syrah vines (77%) , 90-year-old Carignan vines (22%) and 8-year-old Sauvignon Blanc vines (1%) . They are grown on decomposed granite and black schist terroirs between 350 and 650 meters above sea level. During vinification, whole-bunch maceration lasts 8 to 12 days and indigenous yeasts. Aging lasts 18 months in demi-muids, 18 months in tuns and 1 month in stainless steel vats .
Grape varieties: 77% Syrah, 22% Carignan, 1% Sauvignon Blanc