Domaine de Majas Côtes Catalanes Rouge 2022

The Côtes Catalanes Rouge is made from 50% Carignan and 50% Grenache Noir, from vines ranging in age from 20 to 120 years. Its striking bright ruby red colour is one of its most defining characteristics and is the reason for its name. The grapes are fermented 100% whole cluster, with two to three days of maceration, and fermented and aged in large concrete vats. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Alain Carrère founded Domaine de Majas with his wife, Agnès, in 1992. Today, the estate represents 30 hectares, all in the commune of Caudiès-de-Fenouillèdes. The vineyards consist mostly of Carignan grown on terroirs of schist, volcanic stone, and mountainous limestone, but a range of Bordeaux and Rhône varieties are also planted.

To this day, the vast majority of Côtes du Roussillon AOC is being mass produced by cave cooperatives. By the time Alain took over the the estate in the early 1990s, he knew that selling his family's grapes to the cave was no longer an option. He started a small, independent estate (just 2 hectares), but very quickly inherited over 20 hectares of his father's vines. 

Tom eventually decided to rebuild the estate, with the help of Tom Lubbe of Domaine Matassa, and they began converting their land to organic viticulture, as well as eliminating all commercial yeasts. Tom also showed Alain the importance of highlighting different terroirs, a lesson that has produced great results. The wines being produced today are fresh, elegant, and and a real value for the quality.