Domaine des Soulanes

Domaine des Soulanes

【A Mediterranean treasure, and a mirror held up to its terroir】

Domaine des Soulanes was founded in 2002 in the commune of Tautavel, in Maury. The name comes from a local geographical term, soulane, describing hillsides that face south to south-east. The estate lies within a natural corridor of garrigue, at the foot of the rocky outcrop crowned by the Château de Quéribus, the last of the Cathar strongholds.

For fifteen years the family worked hand in hand with the owner, Jean Pull, in both vineyard and cellar. That long apprenticeship led them to buy part of this land, farmed organically since 1972 and including parcels grafted on site.

The vineyard covers seventeen hectares, divided into sixteen parcels grouped across four main islands of vines. Only Mediterranean varieties suited to the terroir and climate are planted: Grenache (Noir, Blanc and Gris), Carignan (Noir, Blanc and Gris), Syrah and Mourvèdre.

Geologically the soils are a mix of metamorphic schist, sedimentary marl, clay and limestone. Steep, dry and stony, they suit the vine perfectly. The site is blessed with the Tramontane, the dry north-westerly wind, and with superb sunshine, both of which count for a great deal in the health of the fruit.

Organic farming allows the estate to respect and protect this environment for the generations to come. Deep ploughing drives the taproots down through the subsoil to the bedrock, easing water stress, regulating yields and lending the wines their sense of minerality. Planting density runs at 4,000 to 5,000 vines per hectare, with yields of 15 to 25 hL per hectare.

Everything is picked by hand into small cases, with sorting done in the vineyard whenever it is needed.