Domaine de la Rectorie is located in Banyuls sur Mer in the Roussillon region of southern France. Wines are made under the Banyuls AOC and Collioure AOC.

Owner: The Parcé brothers.

Background: ‘Marc and younger brother Thierry Parcé (Thierry studied with André Brugirard, leading oenologist of the region) are third cousins of Dr André Parcé but there is seemingly little contact between them. The Parcé brothers Marc, Pierre (06.82.67.04.10) and Thierry have built up this old family estate into something approaching cult, although they wouldn’t like that nomenclature, since 1984. Marc in particular, as president of the Collioure growers’ association and a countrywide lobby group called Sève, is very committed to shaping the appellation’s future and promoting it beyond the region. They’ve also gone into partnership with Vincent Legrand at La Préceptorie de Centernach near Maury having set up a sales & distribution company.

Estate vineyards: ‘La Rectorie covers 27 ha/70 acres making mainly red Collioure, although over the last five years Banyuls production and sales have steadily increased. Before that, the Parcés almost gave up on VDNs because of appellation politics and the type of wines and quality that appeared to represent its name,’ (Roy Richards et al, 2010).

White wines

Vin de Table Blanc, Fleur de Pierre: The owers says one part (from Grenache Gris) is pressed, then fermentation is allowed to run its course and the wine matures oxidatively under a layer of flor. The other part is a rancio sec aged oxidatively. Mark Dorber (Outlaws, 8th March 2004) says this is from Cerevisiae Bayanus the main yeast found in vin jaune; he is not sure which yeast is used here. Flor nose, savoury, salty palate; may be also some Brett; 14.% and thought not to be fortified; very dry, like those Brett beers Mark showed to me in 2003. Tasted at the Outlaws tasting, 8th March 2004.

Collioure AOC Blanc, L’Argile: 90% Grenache Gris, 10% Grenache Blanc which come from plots of vines that mature earlier than others, giving a good balance of elegance and body. Wines are fermented in barriques and aged on lees until the end of April. | 2008 Largely Grenache Gris.

Pink wines

Collioure AOC Rosé, Côté Mer: Grenache Noir, Carignan, Counoise and Syrah. The wine is fermented in barrel after 12 hours of maceration and matured on its lees until April. | 2004 Grenache, Carignan, Counoise, Syrah. 14% alc.

Red wines

Collioure AOC Rouge, Côté Mer: Grenache Noir mainly with some Carignan and Syrah. Maceration of around 20 days. Aged in oak barrels, mostly barriques, for 18 months. | 2005 Grenache noir, Carignan, Counoise, Syrah. 14%. alc. | 2008 40% Syrah, thr rest Grenache with a tiny amount of Carignan.

Collioure AOC Rouge Côté Montagne: Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Counoise and Syrah. 20 days maceration. Aged 18 month in mostly large oak barrels, plus 225 litre barrels. | 2005 14.5% alc. |  2008 A denser and more complex fruit nose [compared to Côté Mer in this vintage], more black than red, with a balsamic quality to the fruit.

Collioure AOC Rouge, Coum Pascole: 2004 75% Grenache Noir (50+ years old, 50-100 metres above sea level), 25% Syrah. Destemmed, 10 day maceration of the juice on the skins before fermentation, aged 6-12 months in French or Burgundy casks. Unfiltered. Soft bright oak and red fruit at Frédéric Py’s house in St Paul de Fenouillet, Friday 12th October 2007, the bottle was given to Py by Vincent Legrand as a thank you for having treated his bad back.

Collioure AOC Rouge, L’Oriental: L’Oriental is what used to be called “Natural Banyuls”, meaning unfortified, using the same grapes as for “Parcé Frères”, mostly Grenache Noir (picked and maceration period at the same time). It is matured in large oak barrels for one year. | 2005 Grenache-based. 15% alcohol.

Collioure AOC Rouge, Seris: From a 2 ha site near Cerbère. Two thirds Grenache Noir, one third old vine Carignan Noir.

Collioure AOC Rouge, Les Hauts Vignes: ‘Two thirds Grenache Noir with old Carignan, the same encepagement as Seris, but the elevation of the vineyard means it is crisper in style, especially in leaner years,’ (Roy Richards et al, 2010).

Fortified wines

Banyuls [Rouge], Cuvée Parcé Frères: Mainly Grenache. Made only in the best years. Long maceration. Muted. Aged 6 months in casks. | 2008 50cl. ‘Made from Grenache this had an enticing nose of summer pudding and strawberries. Tannins are grainier but this had not long been bottled and the finish was pleasing. Marc explained that they like to keep a vinous edge to this Banyuls cuvée,’ (Roy Richards et al).

Banyuls, Cuvée Léon Parcé: 2005 Grenache. 16.5% alc. 2008 50cl ‘This has more of a dried fruit nose [compared to the Cuvée Parcé Frères], prunes and figs. Creamier on the palate with lovely balance and rich, fine tannins. More complexity and a much longer finish,’ (Roy Richards et al, 2010).

Vin de Table Blanc, Pedro Solera: Richer than the Fleur de Pierre. More aged character says Simon; hints at sour alkalinity says John Atkinson MW. Spiky flor character in the finish (Outlaws tasting, 8th March 2004).

Bibliography

Roy Richards & Philippa Saunders, ‘Languedoc-Roussillon Provence 2009, Negotiating Languedoc-Roussillon’, Richards Walford (Feb 2010)

Contact

Domaine de la Rectorie

54 avenue du Puig del Mas

F-66650 Banyuls sur Mer (Pyrénées-Orientales), France

Tel+33 (0)4.68.88.13.45

Website www.rectorie.com