RIVESALTES

Domaine Sarda-Malet is situated over 46 hectares just south of Perpignan, on the right bank of the river Tet. The vines cover rolling south and south-west facing hillsides in both the Cotes de Roussillon and Rivesaltes appellations. Over the past 25 years efforts have been made to increase the proportion of Syrah and Mourvedre in the vineyards, while retaining the Carignan and Grenache vines dating back to the 1940s. Traditional viticultural practices are carried out, with minimum intervention in the vineyards. Excessive spraying is avoided, and all treatments are natural, with no use of herbicides. Yields are kept low, never exceeding 35 hl/ha, through a combination of severe pruning, green harvests and naturally poor soils. The expression of 'terroir' in the wines is of utter importance, so much so that the use of new oak is kept to an absolute minimum. These are highly expressive wines of great quality.