Store Manager Richard had a quick tasting with Paul Collins of Hallgarten Wines last Friday and was introduced to a new range of French wines that he has now taken on. Needless to say he was very impressed and is excited to introduce five of their range to you here. Check out these quality wines at great prices! These wines are available upstairs now while stocks last and if you wish to reserve any for collection, please contact: richard@campbellsofleyburn.co.uk or tel 01969 624391 Introducing Domain Lafage Domaine Lafage is situated between Perpignan and the Spanish border in Côtes Catalanes, Roussillon, and has been run by Jean-Marc and Eliane Lafage since 2001. Together, they travelled the world, spending many a season harvesting grapes and making wine in South America, the United States (California), South Africa and Germany before settling back in the Roussillon. Domaine Lafage, which has a winemaking history dating back to 1798, prides itself on producing fine and elegant wines from the mosaic of vineyards in the dry, windy and rugged landscape. For over a decade, the Roussillon region has been grappling with the full force of climate change. Domaine Lafage has been transforming its viticultural practices and laying the groundwork to be able to face climatic challenges the future may bring. They place great emphasis on sustainability, and climate resistance in the form of regenerative agriculture and water monitoring. Harvesting also takes place earlier to retain natural freshness, which is translated in the elegance of their wines. |
 Domaine Lafage, Miraflors Rosé, Côtes Catalanes 2024 Roussillon, France 12.5% vol 75cl Only £15.99 Vineyard Vines are cultivated on stony soil (galets roulés) close to the Mediterranean coast giving beautiful maritime freshness. The average vine age is 25 years old for the Mourvedre and 75 years for the Grenache. Grape Grenache Gris 40%, Grenache Noir 30%, Mourvèdre 30% Winemaking The grapes are harvested at the beginning of September and the juice is gently pressed and clarified before fermentation at 16°C. The vinification takes place anaerobically to enhance the fruit flavour and the wine is matured on its own lees for four months. Tasting Note Juicy, pale rosé, with strawberry, citrus and orange peel aromas. Ample minerality as well as a medium-bodied, racy profile on the palate, to be enjoyed young and fresh. For those who used to enjoy the Gerard Bertrand Gris Blanc we once stocked, then this should also interest you. |
 Domaine Lafage, 'Les Sardines', Grenache Gris 2024 Vin de France 12.5% vol 75cl Only £10.49 Grape Grenache Gris 100% Vineyard While labelled a Vin de France, the Grenache Gris grapes come from the Pyrénées Orientales sub region of the Roussillon. Nestled within a natural amphitheatre open to the Mediterranean Sea, Roussillon’s vineyards are surrounded by mountain ranges and benefit from an ideal climate, perfect for the cultivation of vines. The region’s tumultuous geological history and resulting soil and subsoil diversity have created an extraordinary patchwork of micro-terroirs. The grapes come from the vineyard site close to the sea, where the soils are very rich and deep. The influence of the cooling sea breezes mitigates the warm, sunny climate and encourages a long hangtime during which the Grenache Gris grapes build aromatic complexity and retain balancing acidity. This cuvée pays homage to the Catalan fishermen, who used to fish by trawling with a net carried by a boat, some 300 metres from the shoreline. The net was then manually hauled up from the beach by the strength of the fishermen. At the end of the day, all the fish were shared, along with ‘the glass of friendship’! Les Sardines Grenache Gris was created as a tribute to these moments on the beaches of this stunning coastline and to recapture the "joie de vivre". Winemaking The grapes were crushed and cooled to 5°C, before being gently macerated to extract the varietal flavours and aromas. A light racking took place, followed by fermentation at controlled temperatures of 16°C. The wine was bottled young to capture the freshness and vibrancy. Tasting Note A crisp, refreshing Grenache Gris with aromatic floral notes layered with citrus and white fruits, showing wonderful tension and a well-rounded finish. Perfect with appetisers or grilled fish. |
 Domaine Lafage, 'Les Sardines', Grenache Noir 2023 Vin de France 13.5% vol 75cl Only £10.99 Grape Grenache Noir 100% Winemaking The grapes underwent cool maceration for two weeks, to extract the desired level of colour, flavour and aromas. Fermentation took place with selected yeasts under temperature-controlled conditions. Vinified without an extended maceration period post-fermentation, the wine underwent brief ageing in concrete tanks which retained the juicy fruit-forward character of the wine. It was lightly fined prior to bottling. Tasting Note A smooth red wine offering a delightful medley of red fruit aromas. Fresh and juicy, subtle savoury notes on the palate are layered with a fruit-forward character. Perfect with grilled meat. Domaine Lafage Sardines Grenache introductory deal: Any 2 for £20! "There’s nothing fishy about these wines — blended exclusively for Hallgarten by Jean Marc from his prized Roussillon vineyards. They deliver real regional character and great value. The white is both crisp and mineral, showing that tell tale salty freshness that is unique to the area. It is great and unusual to have a pure Grenache Gris at this price point. The red, from his oldest Grenache vines, has perfume and balance and a lovely garrigue infused freshness” Steve Daniels – Head of buying, Hallgarten Wines Both of these wines would make excellent summer BBQ wines and the labels themselves make them stand out from the crowd. As an introduction to them I'm offering a multisave offer of any 2 bottles for just £20! while stocks last. |
 Domaine Lafage, Côté Sud, Côtes Catalanes 2022 Roussillon, France 14.5% vol 75cl only £14.49 Grape Varieties Grenache Noir 70%, Syrah 30% Vineyard This wine is made from a blend of three terroirs with an average yield of 35 hl/ha. The Syrah vines are 30 years old and the Grenache 50 and the vines are planted south/north , hence the name ‘Côté Sud’ . This exposure gives a better phenolic maturity which contributes riper fruit together with rounder and softer tannins. Winemaking The Syrah is harvested mid September and the Grenache at the beginning of October with separate vinifications for each variety. The Grenache is fermented in open vats with pigeage to extract colour and flavour. Part of the Syrah is fermented by carbonic maceration to give freshness. Tasting Note The Côtes Catalanes Côté Sud offers pure, lively notes of blackberries, currants, garrigue, pepper and assorted spices to go with a medium to full-bodied, layered palate feel. |
 Les Vignobles St Didier Parnac, 'Picpus', Comté Tolosan, Malbec Syrah Sud Ouest, France 12.5% vol 2023 Only £11.99 Grape Varieties Malbec 80%, Syrah 20% Producer Note In 1992, Hervé Joyaux Fabre, a former wine merchant in Bordeaux, tasted a Malbec in the outskirts of Mendoza and was utterly seduced by it. As a visionary, he purchased the Mendoza estate with his childhood friend and they went on to successfully create award-wining wines. In 2015, Hervé and his wife Diane, visited Cahors in France, the original home of Malbec. They were immediately impressed by the diversity of its terroirs, and how much Malbec as a variety had developed and evolved. It did not take Hervé and Diane long to decide that they had to invest in Cahors and in 2017, along with their friends and associates, they became the new owners of the Vignobles Saint Didier Parnac, situated on the impressive limestone plateau of Les Causses. Hervé’s philosophy is very much one of minimal intervention, he believes that wine should be an expression of the fruit and the vineyard; the sustainably cultivated estate is certified HVE. He has won countless awards, including IWC Red Winemaker of the Year in 2018. Vineyard The vineyard overlooks the meandering River Lot, the valley below and the slopes of the Causse. The terroir is distinguished by the limestone plateau, which is covered with clay soils, rich in iron and manganese which nourish the vines and the limestone base imparts elegance to the wines. The vineyard benefits from Mediterranean and Continental climate influences, with long, warm and sunny growing seasons and moderate rainfall which provides the ideal environment for the thick-skinned Malbec and Syrah varieties to reach good maturity levels. The dry climate also means that vines experience slight hydric stress, forcing them to dig deep, strong root systems in search of water, simultaneously increasing the concentration of sugars and phenolic compounds in the grapes. The relief of the Causse protects the vineyard from cold air masses coming from the north. Winemaking A cool pre-fermentation maceration was carried out over four days to optimise the extraction of fruit flavours. Fermentation took place with selected yeasts in stainless steel tanks at temperatures of 25 to 26°C. The extraction was carefully monitored to avoid an overly tannic structure, but one with balance and generosity. The wine was made without the influence of oak, allowing the pure expression of fruit. Tasting Note Expressive notes of wild-berried fruit, redcurrant and strawberry are layered with spicy, menthol and liquorice nuances. A concentrated and intense, richly-fruited wine with an opulent finish. |
Why not join our mailing list for all our in-store happenings... |
Copyright © 2026 Campbell's of Leyburn - All rights reserved. | Site by Moonburst