In 1973, Marlène Soria purchased Peyre Rose, an isolated property situated on a rocky plateau in the Languedoc, as a holiday home. With the idea of making wine for personal consumption, she spent three years painstakingly clearing the scrubland around the house and planting her first vines. But once her bottles caught the attention of critics in the 90s, Peyre Rose was catapulted to cult status.
Marlène’s estate now covers 25ha of organically farmed Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Rolle, Roussanne, and Viognier - which are among the lowest yielding vines in France.
After long macerations and fermentations in concrete vats, the wines are aged in small barrels before being cellared at the winery for up to 10 years. Released only when Marlène feels that they are ready to drink, they develop increasing complexity for decades after they are made.
‘Clos des Cistes’ comes from a high, exposed parcel of Syrah and a little Grenache. ‘Belle Léone’ is mainly Syrah with 20% Mourvèdre. An equal-parts blend of Syrah and Grenache from the estate’s youngest vines, ‘Marlène No.3’is Peyre Rose’s most approachable cuvée in youth, marrying juicy fruit with suave tannins.
While Mas de Daumas Gassac, Grange des Pères, and Mas Jullien have long dominated the fine wine conversation in the Languedoc, Peyre Rose has remained an insiders' favourite thanks to the rarity, and incredible complexity, of Marlène's wines.
