Hors Champ, La Femme Soleil, 2022

Peach, Saline, Pear

Rousillion / Skin Contact / Macabeu / Organic/Biodynamic

Hors Champ is his Negoce project purchasing his grapes from the organically certified Domaine de Rancy but still with the Cyril stamp. The maccabeu comes from 70yo vines planted on the lower slopes of Montner in a schist derived soil. Aged in cuve primarily with just 15% in barrique for a little added texture, sulphur here is a very low total 10mg/l, the wine is very pure, and the fruit supple and attractive.

Notes on the producer

From superstar Rousillon winemaker Cyril Fhal. His Clos du Rouge Gorge comes from the village of Latour-de-France whose schist and gneiss terroirs are some of the best in Roussillon. Cyril bought 5ha of old vineyards in 2002 (since when he has gradually added another 2.5ha) having previously worked with Mark Angéli and Charlie Foucault in the Loire, and then as the chef de cave of Mas Crémat in Roussillon. Yields are tiny, in the 10-20hh range, and back in the new cave that he converted four years ago, the fruit is gently handled with extractions more like infusion, élevage in 500/600ltr demi-muids and foudres, no fining or filtration and total sulphur levels of just 10-15mg/l.

Hors Champs is Cyril Fhal's negociant side project, using purchased fruit from organic vineyards that he has meticulously selected throughout the Languedoc-Roussillon.