Clos du Rouge Gorge

Clos du Rouge Gorge is Cyril Fhal's estate at Latour-de-France, in the Agly valley of northern Roussillon. Rouge-gorge is French for the robin.

Fhal started out in the Loire before coming south to found the clos, as the merchants Sip Wines and Marée Haute tell it. Sip dates the founding to 2002, and Gault&Millau says he has worked his vines at Latour-de-France since that year. He farmed biodynamically from the very start, Gault&Millau writes.

The vines are planted mostly to Carignan and Grenache, according to Marée Haute. Les Passionnés du Vin places them on gneiss and schist, and other merchants add marl and granite. The size depends on who is counting: 7.5 hectares for Gault&Millau, 6 for Les Passionnés du Vin.

The two main reds are Jeunes Vignes and Vieilles Vignes. When some Grenache and Carignan barrels suit neither, Fhal blends them into a Cuvée du Patron, which is not made every year (Les Passionnés du Vin). Around them sit L'Ubac in red and white, Col du Loup and Le Coteau de Bruno.

Wines from bought grapes are a separate business, Cyril Fhal the négociant. They are bottled by SAS Cyril Fhal, négociant at Cassagnes, Une Vie la Nuit among them, and some carry the Hors Champ name, such as the Macabeu La Femme Soleil.