Tasting note
- Colour & appearance
- Intense, luminous golden yellow – clear and radiant in the glass.
- Nose
- Distinctive yet elegant: salted almonds, sea spray and iodine notes meet meat broth, soy sauce and apple peel. These are joined by peach stone, green banana and a hint of dry biscuits. An aromatic profile reminiscent of great oxidative white wines, yet entirely distinctive in its own right.
- Palate
- Razor-sharp and linear: salted lemon, delicate apple fruit and captivating spice define the opening. The texture recalls a fine Manzanilla sherry – saline, precise, with a tension that electrifies the palate. Dry, uncompromising, of crystalline clarity.
- Finish
- Long and saline, with persistent umami depth and a freshness that has lost none of its vibrancy despite six years of ageing under flor.
- Terroir & origin
- The plots are situated on the schist terraces of Montner on the north-facing slope of Força Real, sheltered from the scorching Mediterranean sun. Altitudes reaching 400 metres ensure cool nights, whilst the vertical structure of the schist stores water for dry periods. The 25 hectares are farmed biodynamically – a legacy Marjorie Gallet acquired from Gérard Gauby, the father of modern Roussillon.
- Grape varieties & vinification
- Grenache Gris, Macabeu and Grenache Blanc – harvested early, as are all the estate’s dry white wines. The story of Cioran began in 2006 with three barrels that had developed oxidative notes. Stéphane Gallet, whose expertise in oxidative maturation also shapes the Maury, set them aside. Over time, a layer of yeast (flor) formed, beneath which the wine matured for six years.
- Food pairings
- A wine for salty, umami-rich cuisine: aperitif with a seafood platter, cold tomato consommé with herb dumplings or tart with chicory and smoked salmon. Also a revelation alongside pickled vegetables, olives and hard cheese.
- Special features
- The name plays on an anagram – and is a tribute to the writer Emil Cioran, whose style was sharp, direct and concentrated. Qualities this wine shares. The 500 ml bottle underscores its character as a meditative soloist: not a wine for quick consumption, but one that demands and rewards attention.
