The aptly named Domaine des Schistes is owned by Jacques and Nadine Sire. It is based in the village of Estargel, surrounded by barren rocky landscapes, the beautiful white capped Pyrenees to the south and the Mediterranean due east. The windy exposure and dry climate make disease rare. Winemaking is traditional for these parts: carbonic maceration for the Carignan to extract juicy fruit flavours from the century-old vines; foot-trodden syrah and grenache (minimum of 40 years old) in knee high vats.

This is one of the top domains on this region, producing exceptional dry and sweet wines. Domaine des Schistes are regularly singled out for their superb wines by Revue de Vins de France and Gaultmillau. The vineyards here produce a wide range of fairly priced wines, mainly red, ranging from the ripe, raisin rich vins doux naturels to light , fruity fresh vins de pays, and there are now some really exciting table wines being made here by producers such as Schistes.

Close to the Spanish border the wines here are technically vins de pays, due to French bureaucracy, so Merlot makes up 75% of the blend, with Grenache Noir making up the rest. The name 'Le Bosc', is taken from the Catalan - 'the woods'. As you would expect from Merlot, it is quite rounded and supple, gentle tannins with coffee notes and baked fruits on the finish.

Food Match: lamb, tuna, pork.