Terres Fidèles - Soleilla

Fidèle, 'Soleilla' Maury Sec AOP

A story of wonder, respect and faith.

Born in the wilds of Roussillon. A crossroads of European history and human endeavour over thousands of years, where layers of culture and stories are visible in the magnificent yet challenging landscape. From the mountains to the sea. We created a wine 'faithful' to the spirit of the place, land and people who shared their precious vines with us.

Our Maury site is located upstream along the Agly Vallée. It is here the cliff faces are formed of the purest white limestone whilst the valley floor is carpeted with black schist-marl.

Soleilla

Maury Sec AOP

The Soleilla vineyard is perched high in the dramatic hills and terraces above the Vallée d’Agly with a unique character of its own. The famed black schist is interspersed with pockets of limestone from the higher slopes, combining the richness and power that is typical of Maury with a fresher, more finely defined character.

Heady and opulent but somehow fresh and refined. Yin and yang, darkness and light, power and grace.

A very special site and a very special wine.

Extremely limited:

2019 - 2660 bottles produced

2020 - 1900 bottles produced

A blend of 80% old vine Grenache from the hillside Soleilla vineyard in the Coume del Rey and 20% of century old Carignan from the sandy loam of the Clos des Bosq on the the summit of the plateau above. Both sites are tended by our friend and grower Julien Montagne.

Terres Fidèle Soleilla Maury Sec AOP Bottle from Terres Fidèles

TASTING NOTE

“Dark brooding aromas, offering up refreshing raspberry coulis and layers of ripe Morello cherry. More dark fruits follow with exotic kirsch, blackberry and plum fading to reveal the more savoury, wild character of the Soleilla site and the characteristic fragrance of the Roussillon garrigue, with its juniper, rosemary and fennel. The palate is rich, round and full with opulent ripe fruit, hints of cassis and dark chocolate.

The plush, rich texture of the Grenache is framed by the fresher acidity, firm tannic structure and concentration that the centennial Carignan adds but as important as the Carignan is in this wine, it is the Grenache that gives this wine its distinctiveness."

Fergal Tynan MW

Soleilla 2021 Flyer

Soleilla 2020 Flyer

Soleilla 2019 Flyer

95 points - Wine Orbit

"Wonderfully composed and gorgeously expressed, the wine shows dark fruit intensity, cured meat, tapenade and roasted nut aromas on the nose, followed by a weighty palate that's plump and flavoursome. Splendidly structured by bold tannins, making it robust and persistent."

(2020 vintage)

94 points - The Wine Front

"80% old vine Grenache from the hillside Soleilla vineyard and 20% of century old Carignan from the Vallée d’Agly. Intense and powerful wine, though it manages to stay pretty light on its feet. Dark berries, scrub herb and lavender perfume, meaty and slightly malty. Plenty of flavour, distinct regional herbs, perfume, dark raspberries and a ‘mineral’ feel, especially pleasant rushed stone tannin, bitter almond and a long clean finish packed with tannin and bucolic fragrance. Excellent wine. Personality Plus."

(2019 vintage)

92 points (Silver) - The Real Review

"Medium to deep ruby-red hue. Dark cherry, boudin noir and garrigue aromatics. The palate sits quite deep and rich, jammy fruits nestle amongst dried herbs and lavender complexities. A stony line of tannins tightens and focuses the very long finish. It handles the high alcohol remarkably well.." (2019 vintage)

91 points - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

"An unoaked 80-20 blend of Grenache and Carignan, the 2019 Maury Sec Soleilla features scents of crushed stone, red raspberries, slightly darker, more purple fruit and also nuanced garrigue elements. It's medium to full-bodied, silky, concentrated and long. A fine effort." (2019 vintage)

92 points (Silver) - The Real Review

"Cherry red from core to rim. Raspberry, smoked meat and garrigue aromatics. Rich and dense plum and mulberry fruit with layers of blood, smoked meat and garrigue herbs. Good length, powered by firm grainy tannins that dry the finish. Best suited to serving with robust protein." (2020 vintage)

Soleilla - bottle image .PNG