2011 Les Roc des Anges - Effet Papillon Rouge
It takes a lot of work to make great wine in the south of France, particularly in the Roussillon. It’s tough country: windy, hot and dry with very poor soil. Winegrowers battle low yields, high alcohol, high PH and bacteria. Marjorie Gallet’s brilliant white wine, Effet Papillon, was an overnight smash hit at the Corkscrew. We're still taking orders for next year's vintage. We’re happy to introduce her first release of red wine under the Effet Papillon label--it’s a home run and definitely the new Chapuis house wine. I've known Marjorie Gallet was a rock star ever since I first tasted her wine in Beziers in 2006. She was the talk of every sommelier at Vinisud that year. The wines of her five year old domaine, Roc des Anges, carved out of the schiste just outside of Perpignan, were on the lists of every important restaurant in France, from Le Crillon and Pierre Gagnaire in Paris to Jardin des Sens in Montpellier and the list goes on. That first tasting was a marvel; reds and whites, all wildly aromatic and lush, yet fresh and long, as if they came from points much further north. Facing north is part of the secret of Roc des Anges. Each of her 43 different parcels of vines face north, allowing for a cooler exposure in the brutal summer Roussillon heat. Farming biodyamically encourages deep root penetration and the cultivation of a high leaf canopy provides for great photosynthesis and shade for the grapes. Every grape at Roc des Anges is picked by hand, at the coolest parts of the day and are kept cool all the way into the press. From there, the mineral soil takes over, providing that great finesse and freshness in every wine. Effet Papillon Rouge is a terrific blend of Grenache and Carignane, harvested from the iron rich soil just outside of Rivesaltes. The nose is all about black fruits and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is fresh. There always seems to be a Burgundian sense of purity and elegance in Marjorie’s wines. We’ll be drinking this wine for the rest of the summer with burgers, ribs and pizza. It’s a great candidate for a house wine, it will go with just about anything. |
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