That Marlène Soria story is amazing! She relocated to the village of Saint Pargoire, a few miles from Montpellier, at the conclusion of her successful real estate career, and into a house that was lost at the end of a trail. She initially moved here to hide from the world, but in the early 1980s she made the decision to clear the scrubland around her house and turn it into vine patches. Her sensitivity to her skin’s surface and her desire for creativity grew, and she is now one of the most gifted winemakers.
She mostly planted Syrah between 1984 and 1987, followed by Grenache and Mourvèdre for reds. The white wines are made from the Terret, Rolle, Roussanne, Viognier, and Ugni Blanc grape varietals. In three years, the estate’s 17 hectares of land will be planted. The estate has always emphasised organic farming as its guiding principle. The first wine was produced in 1988, and it was bottled two years later. The world-famous Marlene Soria wines, which continue to entice experts’ palates, were created in this manner.
Today, the estate has 25 hectares of vines, 23 of which are red and the remaining nine are white. Clay-limestone soils in a completely Mediterranean environment and a lovely steep vineyard are primarily made up of friable rocks and hard stones.
Marlène Soria takes the best possible care of her plants in the vineyards. Here, Syrah reigns supreme, accounting for 70% of the red grape variety. In other areas, black Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Carignan are grown. Don’t forget the white wine that contains 50% Rolle (the Italian Vermentino) in addition to other grape varietals like Viognier, which pairs wonderfully with Peyre Rose. Marlène Soria practises organic farming in order to portray the terroir with the utmost truthfulness. poor yields of concentrated juices and visibly clipped plants for the guard result in the very poor yields.
One can clearly sense the strong connection to the vines in the cellars. In concrete vats that have been painted pink and customised for the harvest of the various parcels, wine is made. Then there is a lengthy period of maturation in barrels and a brief period of rest prior to marketing.
Tasting notes
2002 Cuvée Leone
Quite a deep colour. A viandé note on the nose. This is the first year that Marlène used her foudres. Lovely elegance, garrigues and spice. Very rounded, complex, rich and elegant. 92 Corked Points
2002 Cuvée Schiste
Syrah is the dominant grape variety, with a touch of Grenache. And the wine has been given a long élevage.Medium colour.A certain meaty leathery note on the nose. More ready on the palate; quite supple with garrigues notes; drinking well now, with length, elegance and complex nuances of subtle flavours. 93 Corked Points
2003 Marlène No. 3
2003 was the first vintage of this cuvée; there is a little more Syrah than Grenache, and also a little Carignan. She blends as she picks, so that the assemblage is done at the harvest. Quite a smoky note on the nose. More red fruit; quite rich cherries on the palate, and quite a tannic finish. About a quarter of the blend is kept in a small foudre – 35 hls – for a couple of years or so. You sense that Marlène’s wine making is very empirical, with a finely attuned attention to detail, determined by a sensitive palate. 91 Corked Points
2003 Cuvée Leone
This is named after the former owner of the property. Marlène explained that a lot of Spanish had arrived here in 1936, and first lived up here in the hills and then settled in the village of St. Pargoire in the 1960s. Consequently there are several ruined buildings in the garrigues. The blend is Syrah, with 10% Mourvèdre. Originally all her wine was aged in vat, but she now has some foudres for Cuvée Leone. This is fuller, richer and denser, with lots of fruit noirs and garrigues notes. It is quite tannic, with a firm finish. 93 Corked Points
2003 Clos des Cistes
Syrah with 15% Grenache. Deep colour; quite a rounded, rich nose, quite evolved. Lots of fruit of the garrigues. On the palate, rich and rounded, quite dense, tannins bien enrobés, – I am not quite sure how to say that in English – well fleshed out maybe? Quite leathery, Seamless with tannic streak. Depth and complexity. It was bottled two years ago. Marlène favours a long slow ageing. As she organic, rather than biodynamic, she says that she sees her wines changing according to the season, rather than the biodynamic calendar. 94 Corked Points
2004 Syrah Leone
Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, prnounced intensity, with aromas of black and white pepper, spices, blackberries, earthy undergrowth, garrigue. Black tea leaves with more air. Developed. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium+ alcohol (14.5%), firm high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of black and white pepper, blackberries, black plums, black tea leaves, Provencal herbs. With air, more smoke, spice and slight meatiness. Long finish. Very good quality. Drink up, unlikely to improve any more with further age. Blend of Syrah with some Mourvedre. 94 Corked Points
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