Domaine Pouderoux - Maury Grenat 2024
Domaine Pouderoux is located in the heart of the village of Maury, in the Agly valley, on the iconic black schists of Roussillon. Passed down through six generations, this family estate of about twenty hectares is now in the hands of Louise Tanguy and Léo Hemmer, who continue the work started by Robert Pouderoux. Certified in organic farming and then biodynamics, the vineyard is managed with extreme attention to the soil, biodiversity, and the ripeness of the grenaches. The Maury vines benefit from a warm but ventilated microclimate, where the tramontane wind and cool nights preserve the freshness of the fruit despite abundant sunshine. The Maury wines from the estate are renowned for their intensity and balance, always centered on the purity of black grenache. With Maury Grenat 2024, the estate once again delivers a natural sweet wine that perfectly illustrates the meeting of local tradition and contemporary demands.
Maury Grenat 2024 is a natural sweet wine AOP Maury made exclusively from black grenache planted on slopes of black schist, where the vines root deeply to draw water and nutrients. The harvest is done by hand, with precise sorting in the vineyard to keep only the healthiest and ripest berries. The grapes are fully destemmed then put into vats, and mutage on the skins occurs during fermentation to preserve the fruit's indulgence while fixing the natural sugar. The maceration of about twenty days allows extraction of color, aroma, and tannins while maintaining a silky mouthfeel. The aging then takes place in stainless steel tanks for a short duration, so as not to mark the wine with wood and to favor the brightness of the fruit. Bottling, carried out in spring during cool weather and in accordance with the lunar calendar, locks in the freshness and intensity of the 2024 vintage in a Maury Grenat style that is decidedly youthful and expressive.
On tasting, Maury Grenat 2024 shows a deep garnet robe with almost black reflections, dense and shiny. The nose opens with a basket of black and red fruits: wild blackberry, Morello cherry, redcurrant, and sloe, complemented by notes of cherry pit, licorice, and a discreet touch of cocoa. On the palate, the attack is broad, enveloping, with a smooth texture where fresh black cherry and blackberry dominate, supported by a generous sweetness perfectly balanced by lively acidity. The tannins are present but smooth, giving relief without harshness, and the texture retains a crispness that avoids any heaviness. The finish is long, juicy, driven by fruit, a hint of sweet pepper, and a slight bitterness of pit that balances the sweetness. At the table, this Maury ideally accompanies a dark chocolate fondant, a cherry tart, a cocoa moelleux, a platter of blue cheeses and veined cheeses, or even duck with cherries for a highly indulgent sweet and savory pairing. Served slightly chilled, it also becomes a characterful aperitif wine to share with chocolate desserts or ripe red fruits.
Grape variety: 100% Black Grenache.
