Domaine Peyre Rose - Marlène N°3 2003

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

The tannins, marked by the vintage, will require patience to soften, much like a great Spanish reserva, but the potential is there. The finish offers leather and sweet spices, with a surprising dry note of Cuban cigar, and the texture is superbly smooth.

About the estate:

This farm, tucked away at the end of an impossible-to-find road, is run organically by Marlène Soria. Marlène produces three red wines dominated by Syrah: Clos des Cystes, Syrah Léone (now Belle Léone), and, since the 2003 vintage, Marlène No. 3 from a new terroir. The Cistes come from the highest part of the estate, planted on very hard, stony soil. This wine has more acidity than Belle Léone, which is planted on more crumbly rock that is easily penetrated by water: it is often the most sensual wine. Marlène N°3 is neither a third nor a second wine. The estate's third planting, it is certainly the best planted of the plots with a higher proportion of Grenache, and it is the one that benefits most from aging. The white wine, Oro, is made from 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," as the finishes are so enchanting.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

With notes of aromatic overripeness, Marlène N°3 2003 has lots of plum, blackberry liqueur, and licorice notes. The palate is multi-layered, rich, full-bodied, and decadent in style. It won't appeal to everyone given its ultra-ripe style, but it certainly provides a lot of pleasure. There are still tannins hidden beneath all the fruit, so I imagine it will continue to evolve nicely.

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

About the estate:

Almost 40 years ago, after a career in real estate, Marlène Soria invested in a piece of land in the hills above Saint-Pargoire. In the heart of the garrigue, she created her vineyard from scratch, first planting table grapes (Servant, Chasselas) and then wine grapes (Ugni Blanc, Syrah). Her first harvest was in 1988, but it was in 1993 that the success story began with the release of her first Servant white wine. Such were the foundations of one of the most exciting success stories in French viticulture. Today, the vineyards cover 30 hectares, including 10 hectares of terraced vines. Her son joined her on the estate in 2012, which is completely energy self-sufficient thanks to boreholes and solar panels, for viticulture that is 100% respectful of the surrounding environment. The style is distinctive: the wines are aged for a very long time, often more than ten years, but also very discreetly. The Oro white, unfortunately too rare, is the flagship of the Soria style. Less powerful, the reds show a fiery strength that refines with time.