Terres de Fagayra

The Maury project

When Stéphane Gallet was secretly looking for vineyards in Maury in 2008, he had a vision: Vin Doux Naturel, that doesn't taste like grandma's liqueur cabinet. His wife Marjorie, who grew up near the Côte-Rôtie and is already a celebrated winemaker at Roc des Anges, was immediately on board. What they found exceeded their expectations: Plots on Slate and calcareous shale, where cooler temperatures and sufficient rainfall create ideal conditions for elegant sweet wines.

They christened the three and a half hectares „Les Terres de Fagayra“ - an independent project under the umbrella of Roc des Anges, but with its own identity. The vines, which are 66 years old on average, yield just 20 hectolitres per hectare. Little quantity, lots of substance - the principle that also characterises their dry wines in Montner.

Biodynamics without compromise

The Gallets have been working biodynamically since 2011, certified by Biodyvin. The grapes - Grenache Noir for the red wines, Grenache Gris, Macabeu and Grenache Blanc for the white sweet wines - are harvested early to preserve floral and citrus flavours. In the cellar, the emphasis is on cultivated minimalism: spontaneous fermentation in used wooden barrels, no batonnage, no fining, only 30-50 ppm sulphur at bottling. The result: wines that, despite their sweetness firm and fresh remain.

Maury: The underrated appellation

Maury lies in the Agly Valley, protected by imposing limestone massifs. The dark slate soils store heat, while the altitude and the Tramontane ensure cool nights. These conditions produce sweet wines that are not clumsy and heavy, but vibrant and complex. With each vintage, the Gallets show that Maury deserves more than its reputation as a sweet fringe area of Roussillon.

One pair, two domains

Marjorie, born in Grenoble in 1977, and Stéphane from Normandy met at the agronomy college in Montpellier - and fell in love while riding. In 2001 they founded Roc des Anges at the age of just 23. Today they cultivate over 40 hectares in Latour de France, plus the Maury parcels. Marjorie is considered one of the most talented winegrowers in Roussillon; her wines combine Catalan strength with Burgundian finesse. Terres de Fagayra is your alternative to the dry mainstream: Wines for moments that call for something special.

Hors d'Âge: The crown of the range

The Maury Tuilé Hors d'Âge combines years of barrel ageing with the vibrancy that this location allows. „Tuilé“ describes the brick-red colour that results from oxidative ageing; „Hors d'Âge“ means at least five years of ageing. The result is reminiscent of dried figs, walnuts and caramel - but never heavy, always with the minerality lent by the slate soils. Similarly elegant Mas Amiel, the other large house in Maury.