Carignan 1903 2023 Roc des Anges

The Carignan 1903 2023 from Roc des Anges is the founding cuvée of the domaine, the one through which everything began and which built the worldwide reputation of Marjorie and Stéphane Gallet. Rated 96/100 by Bettane & Desseauve and 18/20 in previous vintages, it is a wine of rare depth and nobility, born from centenarian vines planted in 1903 — one of the oldest and most precious Carignan parcels in the French vineyard. As the domaine itself says: "It is our root wine, the one with which everything began. Vigorous, it guides us more than we guide it."

The terroir and the vines

Four parcels of Carignan — Sainte-Eugénie, la Ginèvre and les Trabassères — planted in 1903 on the north-facing slope of Força Réal, in the village of Montner in the Pyrénées-Orientales. More than 120 years of life, drought, tramontane winds and Catalan sun have transformed these stocks into sculptures of stone and wood, with natural yields barely reaching 15 hl/ha — barely a glass of wine per vine. The ancient schist soils, born from the compression of pure clays rich in silica, behave on this terroir like fine sand: they drain perfectly, force the roots to plunge to exceptional depths to find moisture and nutrients, and give the wines a minerality, salinity and freshness that defy any preconceived idea about a wine of the south. The due-north exposure is a deliberate and capital choice in this warm region — it preserves freshness, slows ripeness and allows the Carignan to develop all the aromatic complexity and tension found in the glass. The vineyard is certified in organic and biodynamic farming.

Tasting profile

The colour is dark and deep, with intense violet hues, of fine density. The nose is one of remarkable harmony and elegance for a variety so shaped by the sun: aromas of black cherry, blackberry and blackcurrant open onto notes of ripe fruit, oriental spices, fine leather and a hint of truffle and forest floor that betray the age and depth of the vines. On the palate, flesh, character and minerality dominate in a stunning balance. The wine is at once powerful and ethereal, concentrated and fresh, endowed with silky tannins and natural acidity that give it exceptional tension and length. The finish is saline, smoky and persistent, of absolute purity. A wine for the cellar in every sense of the term, to be decanted imperatively one hour before serving and most certainly not served too cold, lest it loses its minerality and palate texture. Minimum ageing potential of 15 years.

The domaine and its transmission

Marjorie and Stéphane Gallet founded Roc des Anges in 2001 at Latour-de-France, after a formative spell with Gérard Gauby. Starting from 10 hectares, they patiently built a vineyard of more than 40 hectares in biodynamics, ranking among the finest expressions of Roussillon and the French vineyard as a whole. At the end of 2023, they chose to entrust a significant portion of the domaine to Thibault Ponthier, whom they are supporting over several years to guarantee absolute continuity of philosophy, precision and the Catalan identity of the wines. A living heritage, passed on with the same care that presided over the birth of this mythical cuvée more than twenty years ago.

Food and wine pairings

This Carignan 1903 is a wine of great gastronomy and great patience. It will pair magnificently with jugged hare, roasted woodcock, duck with blood sauce, venison fillet in wild berry sauce or roasted Scottish partridge. It will also find a beautiful harmony with a platter of aged hard or blue-veined cheeses. Served in a carafe at 16–17 °C, after a minimum of one hour aeration, it will reveal all the depth and nobility of its centenarian vines.