Domaine du Clos des Fées : Un Faune Avec Son Fifre 2020

Tasting characteristics and advice for Un Faune Avec Son Fifre 2020 Domaine du Clos des Fées

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a deep garnet hue, reflecting the vintage’s concentration and the grapes’ optimal ripeness.

Nose

The nose opens on an expressive bouquet of red and black fruits, with clearly defined blackcurrant notes. Hints of spice and garrigue add complexity, while a noble vegetal nuance—evoking roasted red pepper—enhances the overall aromatic profile.

Palate

On the palate, the wine reveals a confident yet elegant structure. Remarkably fine, silky tannins bring a refined texture. Freshness is prominent, delivering balance and vibrancy, while the finish stands out for its fine length and aromatic persistence.

Food and wine pairings

This wine is an ideal match for fine meats such as venison tenderloin, roasted pigeon, or a rib steak. It also pairs beautifully with characterful aged cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Un Faune Avec Son Fifre 2020 offers medium- to long-term aging potential, allowing it to evolve harmoniously in the cellar.

A bold red wine from Roussillon dominated by cabernet franc

The estate

Founded in 1997 by Hervé Bizeul, a former sommelier and journalist who retrained as a winemaker, the Domaine du Clos des Fées now spans around thirty hectares of vines in Roussillon. Based in Vingrau, at the foot of the Pyrenees, Hervé Bizeul and his wife Claudine, co-owner, have built the estate’s reputation through a demanding and innovative viticultural approach. The estate has established itself as an essential benchmark for the region, recognized by leading guides with three stars in Bettane+Desseauve.

The vineyard

The plots from which “Un Faune Avec Son Fifre” is produced lie in the Cassenove area, in the northern valley of Vingrau. Facing due north and sheltered by an imposing limestone cliff, these vines benefit from a clay-limestone terroir made up of Urgonian limestone. Planted at high density with six thousand eight hundred vines per hectare, the vines are trained in gobelet on individual stakes. This setup allows each vine to protect its neighbor from the violent Tramontane winds. Vineyard management follows sustainable practices, favoring manual work and respect for the environment.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage benefited from favorable weather conditions, enabling optimal grape ripening. The harvest was carried out at ideal phenolic maturity, preserving the fruit’s natural freshness while ensuring remarkable aromatic concentration in this
vin d'IGP Côtes Catalanes.

Winemaking and aging

Un Faune Avec Son Fifre 2020 is made using the “grains mêlés” technique, with whole-cluster fermentation without destemming. Punch-downs and pump-overs are carried out manually several times a day during a maceration lasting twenty to twenty-five days. After full malolactic fermentation, the wine is partially aged in new and one-wine French barrels, then refined in concrete tanks before early bottling in spring, thereby preserving freshness and fruity expression.

Grape varieties

Cabernet franc (80%)
Merlot (20%)