My introduction to Rousillon was with three important figures that also marked forever the way I drank wine: Padie, Duchene and Cyril fhal.  These were my early natural wines and my baptism with the wines of Rousillon.  The other luminaries came after and they were Matassa and Majas and of course Gauby

Roc des Anges became known to me some time after. I learnt about them by the pejorative remarks of a Canadian high end sommelier. Frankly, most of these wines are still misunderstood by the mainstream wine trade and this caught my attention. Disregarind the person comments, I ordered a case from its Quebec importer: Vini-Vins. It is available as a private import in 6-pack case. The price per bottle is $30.95. Highly reccomended wine.

The IGP Cotes Catalanes was formed in 2003 by merging the two former VdP areas Coteaux des Fenouillèdes and Vals d’Agly. Côtes Catalanes covers almost the entire department Pyrenees-Orientales with the exception of the four municipalities Banyuls-sur-Mer, Cerbère, Collioure and Port-Vendres (these form the IGP area Côte Vermeille). Mostly red wines and in smaller quantities rosé and white wines are produced. The main red wines are Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre,  Cabernet Sauvignon., Syrah and Cinsault, the most important types of white wine are Grenache blanc  and gris, Macabeu, Malvoisie du Roussillon, Marsanne, Roussanne, Vermentino, Muscat d’Alexandrie, Muscat petis grains, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc and  Viognier.

Roc des Anges is not your usual Rousillon estate. Marjorie and Stéphane Gallet, both coming from Côte Rotie and Normandy, respectively have built  a biodynamic domain in the Vallée de l’Agly, an almost abandoned vineyard land better known for their  fortified wines.

Gallet’s Segna de Cor is composed of younger vines from mostly grenache and syrah.  This wine is rich with deep and complex flavours. The palate has an striking elegance and full of spicy flavours. It was a wonderful pairing with a chicken spanish rice with some beans. Vinified and aged in concrete vats. It has a bouquet of red fruits, flowers, pepper. The taste is juicy and concentrated but also fresh and pleasant.