Domaine Faillenc Sainte-Marie Corbières AOC Rouge 2022

The eight hectares of vineyards of Faillenc Sainte-Marie cling tenaciously to the rocky foothills of Mont Alaric, at the mercy of both the northwesterly Tramontane wind off the mountain and the southerly Autan air currents from the Mediterranean. This creates an incredibly dry climate, and the rocky limestone terraces host olive trees, some scraggly brush - and of course - vines, primarily syrah, grenache, and cinsault, along with a small amount of white grapes including roussanne, macabeu, bourboulenc, and clairette. In spite of these incredibly challenging conditions, the location 12 kilometers east of the ancient walled city of Carcassonne has a long history of winemaking: ruins of a Roman winery were discovered at the site, and the domaine was founded in its present form in the reign of Louis XIV. Under the guiding hands of the Gibert family (Dominique, his wife Marie-Thèrése, and their son Jean-Baptiste), the domaine is now certified organic and produces exciting bottlings of white, rosé, and red wines. This cuveé is a field blend of syrah, grenache, and cinsault, partially destemmed prior to being fermented together, and aged entirely in tank. A reflection of the extreme terroir it comes from, this red is almost feral in nature: a muscular, rustic expression of forest fruits and berries, crushed herbs, and wild game. An intensely concentrated wine with great aging potential. Organically grown, low-intervention/natural wine.