Les Clos Perdus - Mire la Mer 2017
Les Clos Perdus is located in Peyrac-de-Mer in Corbières, in the Roussillon. The domaine is managed by Hugo Stewart, Paul Old, Faith Wilson and Stuart Nix. After a career of over 20 years as a professional dancer, Paul returned to his native Australia to study Wine Science at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga. He joined forces with Hugo Stewart in 2003 to form Les Clos Perdus. Faith Wilson is an arts PR with a passion for wine and in 2018, she bought shares in the company and became an Associate. Stuart Nix is also a wine passionate but it wasn't until 2010 that he joined forces to help the rest of the team with the vintage. Since then he has worked with Les Clos Perdus on financial matters, and joined as a partner in 2014. They founded the domaine with 1.5 hectares of vines in the Corbières Maritime. In the following year, they acquired more parcels in the Hautes Corbières hills and on the schistose slopes of the Agly Valley. Now, they have 20 hectares of organic and biodynamic vines in 32 different parcels. They have established three unique terroirs, each represented by an individual wine.
Mire la Mer is a cuvée resulting from the rigorous selection of grapes from 5 plots with heavy, clay-limestone soils, on the edge of ponds between Peyriac-de-Mer and Bages. It is a blend of Mourvèdre (65%), Carignan (30%) and Grenache (5%). Fermentation by the action of indigenous yeasts takes place in new French oak barrels with coarse grain of 500 liters (40%) and in stainless steel tanks (60%). Significant aeration is carried out during the fermentation of these typically reducing grape varieties. The grapes are pressed after 21 days of maceration. Once fermentation is complete, aging is carried out in equal parts in one-, two-, three- and four-year-old barrels on fine lees for 20 months. Bottling is done without fining and without filtration. A muscular and intense wine that is defined by late Mediterranean varietals typical of this coastal region.
Grape varieties: 65% Mourvèdre, 30% Carignan, 5% Grenache