Domaine Peyre Rose - Syrah Léone 2002

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Spicy, round, full-bodied, very aromatic, the magnum we had this year was impressive. Very great peyre rose. Léone 2002 is an expression of southern wine that approaches an absolute.

About the domain :

This farm, lost at the end of an untraceable road, is run by Marlène Soria using organic methods. Marlène produces three red wines predominantly from Syrah: clos-des-cistes, syrah-léone and, since the 2003 vintage, marlène-n°3 on a new terroir. Les-cistes comes from the highest part of the estate, on very hard, stony soils. This cuvée has more acidity than syrah-léone, which is planted on more friable rocks that are easily penetrated by water: it's often the most sensual cuvée. Marlène-n°3 is neither a third nor a second wine. The estate's third plantation, it is certainly the best planted of the parcels, with a higher proportion of Grenache, and is the one that gains the most from ageing. In white, oro is made with rolle, roussanne and viognier, complemented by several other Languedoc grape varieties. If Peyre Rose had to be given a synonym, it would surely be a thousand and one nights, so bewitching are the finishes.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2002 Syrah Leone has a saline, marine minerality to accompany a core of sweet fruit, leather and assorted meats. Perfumed and complex in its aromas, it doesn't lose a beat on the palate; it's full-bodied, voluptuous and rich, with concentration and length on the finish. Impressed, this beauty will have two decades or more of overall longevity.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

In the heart of the garrigue, southwest of Montpellier, Marlène Soria has been writing one of the region's most inspiring wine stories for over forty years. After a career in real estate, the neo-winegrower settled in Saint-Pargoire in 1980, to get closer to plants and away from the world. A tireless pioneer, she quickly planted vines around her property. Within three years, some 17 hectares of vines had taken root. The property now totals 24. Extremely respectful viticulture was an immediate priority. At Marlène Soria, patience is the order of the day, with very long, unobtrusive maturation periods to allow the patina of time to do its work. The reds are energetic, taut and full-bodied, requiring time to calm their youthful ardor. They express a formidable paradox, between fragrant, delicate aromatics and abundant muscle. As for the white Oro, the estate's golden door, its mouthfeel is refined every year, for renewed tactile and aromatic emotions. A little rarity, as much for its unique profile as for the very small volumes produced.

Jancis Robinson