Mas Peyre Maury La Rage du Soleil Hors d'Age

Mas Peyre Maury La Rage du Soleil Hors d'Age is a vin doux naturel from the Roussillon appellation in southern France, fortified mid-fermentation with neutral grape spirit to preserve the fruit and lock in natural sugar. The Hors d'Âge designation signals extended barrel aging beyond the standard classifications, and this bottling balances oxidative complexity with the richness of Grenache grown on black schist soils in the Agly Valley foothills of the Pyrenees. Maury sits at the northern edge of Roussillon, where schist retains heat through the night and pushes fruit toward concentration without sacrificing acidity. Mas Peyre is a small estate in the Agly Valley, where Grenache thrives in high-altitude heat and the diurnal temperature swings that define the region's most serious sites. The wine is fortified during fermentation with neutral grape spirit, then aged in barrel for years beyond the minimum required for the Hors d'Âge designation, until the winemaker determines it ready. Black schist dominates the vineyard soil, a heat-retaining bedrock that defines Maury's ability to produce wines of depth and structure. The extended barrel aging allows the wine to develop layers of tertiary character while maintaining the core of ripe Grenache fruit. The wine opens with cherry compote, spice cake, and cocoa powder, layered with tobacco leaf, bitter orange, and rose pepper. Lightly drying tannins balance the inherent richness, making this more than a simple dessert pour. It pairs well with blue cheese, dark chocolate, or roasted duck, and continues to evolve in the bottle after opening. Serve slightly cool, around 55 degrees, to bring out the savory aromatics and prevent the alcohol from dominating. This is a wine built for time, both in cask and in the glass. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.