Cyril Fhal's 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.

Since he took over, Cyril has searched for a natural balance in the vineyard to help give finer and more complex expressions in his wines. To avoid soil compaction he uses no tractors, just a motorized hand-held cultivator and a horse to help with ploughing. He also sows leguminous plants between the rows of vines, rolling them and folding them back in the summer so that they act as a reserve of humidity, helping each vine to suffer less from the heat and keep enough freshness in its grapes, which is crucial as the village of Latour-de-France is known to have the driest non-irrigated vineyard in the world (an average of just 250mm of rain a year). The crux of viticulture for Cyril is observing the nature of each of his vines and their environment with a lot of attention and reacting according to their specific needs.

Clos du Rouge Gorge, "Cuvée du Patron" 2022 is a rare and highly sought-after red wine (Vin de France) produced by Cyril Fhal in the Roussillon region. This cuvée is unique because it is not produced every year; Cyril Fhal only creates it when he feels certain barrels do not perfectly match the profiles of his flagship "Jeunes Vignes" or "Vieilles Vignes" cuvées.

Spontaneous fermentation with a share of whole clusters; extraction is a "gentle infusion" rather than heavy pressing. Aged for 22 months in a combination of concrete, cement, and old Burgundian barrels.

Aroma: An expressive nose featuring black cherry, blackberry, and Mediterranean herbs (thyme/oregano), alongside notes of olives, smoke, and cracked pepper.

Palate: Medium-bodied with a silky and juicy texture. It balances rich weight with high acidity and a "precise, graphite-toned mineral line". Long and persistent, lingering on notes of gentle spice and coffee.

Grape: Grenache Noir, Mourvedre

Region: Languedoc Rousillon

Alcohol: 13%

Rating: Vivino 4.0