The nose is amazing, complex, and aromatic. Dark chocolate, warm sweet wood, black currants and black raspberries, spiced Damson plums are all accompanied by clove and allspice notes. Flavors are mouth-filling; dark fruits dominate, wood comes next, and spice is a close third. The wine is dense and fleshy, silky and structured. Dark chocolate appears at the back of the mouth. With more air, supple tannins add to the mix. It is medium-plus in body and length.

WINE INFORMATION

The 15 Châteaux and Domaines Paul Mas are part of a company founded over 20 years ago by Jean-Claude Mas. He had a mission: to revive the prestige of Languedoc wines, bringing out the terroir of each of the properties he acquired. He began with his family’s 86-acre estate, where they had been winegrowers for four generations to today’s2,100 acres, scattered throughout the Languedoc. He is the winemaker, and has had this interest since childhood; he vividly remembers the time when he was three years old and escaped from his mother in the vineyard, running a mile and a half to find his grandfather Auguste in the cellar. He started Domaines Paul Mas on a site chosen by Auguste six miles from the Mediterranean and named for his father Paul. Vinus the heron, named after one of his estates, is the company’s emblem, standing in front of the Conas Castle, located on a 25-hectare vineyard in Conas near Pézenas. Over 80% of Jean-Claude’s estates are farmed organically; all are manually harvested.

Grapes for this wine come from an 80-hectare estate in Montagnac. The Syrah vines are 25-25 years old, the Grenache 30 years old, and the Mourvèdre 18 years old. All are grown on clay and limestone soils loaded with fossils and limestone rocks.Grapes are destemmed and fermented by varietal between eight and 10 days at a maximum of 28°C. The wines are blended and 20% of the juice goes through maceration in barrel before malolactic fermentation; 80% goes directly through malo in barrel. The wine ages 10 months in French and American oak barrels. 30% new, 35% one year old, and 35% two years old.

Charcuterie, Duck, Grilled preparations, Hearty stew, Lamb, Pizza, Red Meat, Roasted Root Vegetables, Slow-smoked Barbeque/BBQ Sauce, Tomato Sauce