Winemaker's Notes

With a cool hue of pale, golden straw, the wine reveals a tempting nose of white peaches, fresh lemongrass, jasmine, and citrus pith. Textured and layered on the palate, it pops with ripe Barlett pear,white guava, meringue, and a coating, mineral viscosity by virtue of the famous schistous soils. A tang of vibrant acidity rounds the finish and provides for an energetic lift.

About the Wine

It was eleven years ago that Dave Phinney first took friends up on their offer to visit Maury, France. Nestled in the Pyrénées-Orientales (France’s department number 66), Maury is a historic agricultural village with an enduring legacy of growing grapes. Home to old-vine grenache gris, the region’s warm climate is tempered by the blustery Tramontane wind that whips across the valley. Steep hillsides, black schist and red angile soils reveal striking shades of black, gray and orange, and conspire to make Maury one of the most compelling wine producing regions in Southern France. 

About the Winery

In 2008, following the sale of The Prisoner, Dave Phinney took friends up on an offer to visit the small town of Maury in the Pyrenees mountains in the South of France. Situated two hours northwest of Barcelona in the Roussillon wine region, Maury is home to black schist soils, granite peaks and blustery Tramontane winds that produce concentrated Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan.

Dave returned from the trip with deeds to 40 acres of old vines with a plan to build a winery and produce some of the best wines in the world. The purpose became known as Department 66.

Wines from Department 66 show off the terroir of Maury and the surrounding Agly Valley paired with Dave Phinney’s signature drinkability and rich concentration.

Blend :  100% Grenache Gris