Domaine Gayda, located in Brugairolles in the Aude department, looks south and is interested in the variety of Roussillon terroirs. With their new range, Altre Cami (“other paths” in Catalan), Tim Ford and Vincent Chansault open up new horizons in their quest to express terroir.
From the granitic arenas on the heights of Saint-Martin de Fenouillet to the red clay-limestone of Opoul, via the gneiss at Cuxous, between Cassagne and Latour de France, Tim Ford, director of Domaine Gayda, and Vincent Chansault, Winemaker and terroir adventurer, have invested in old Grenache gris and Grenache noir vines in Roussillon. The vintages were already or have been worked organically since they were acquired, and have carried the AB label since the 2020 vintage.
Vincent Chansault is passionate about these new plots: “After Villa Mon Rêve, where we worked to express the full typicity of Syrah on the white limestone of the Minervois region, we’re embarking on a new quest to express the terroir, working on its diversity in Roussillon, linked by its emblematic grape variety: Grenache. We have chosen old vines at different altitudes and in different soils. Working with Grenache – black, for the reds, and grey for the whites – is all the more fascinating as the vines faithfully reveal in their grapes the variety of soils in which they are deeply rooted, through their personalities of aromatic expression, as well as qualities of acidity and tannins that are truly fascinating. The combination of these characteristics reveals the full complexity of Roussillon terroirs, made up of both generosity and finesse.
Carefully harvested, the bunches are transported in cool conditions to Brugairolles for vinification and ageing in concrete vats, with particular attention paid to the fragility of Grenache to oxidation.
In red, Altre Cami, made from the granitic sands of Saint-Martin de Fenouillet, offers bright fruit, fine tannins and plenty of freshness for a very sapid wine.
The white Atre Cami is made from Grenache gris grapes from the red soils of Opoul. The cuvée expresses all the aromatic finesse of the grape variety (acacia flower, mirabelle plum, thyme and fennel blossom), with a salivating salinity that perfectly balances an enveloping mouthfeel and remarkable length.
