2008 Mas de Daumas Gassac Rouge

Mas de Daumas Gassac, famously described as' The First Growth of the Languedoc' by no less a luminary than Hugh Johnson , is located just to the north-west of Montpellier.The advice given in 1972 to the owner Aimé Guibert by geologist Henri Enjalbert and Bordeaux oenologist Emile Peynaud, was that both the soils and the climate here were perfect to reproduce the outstanding quality of the wines of the Médoc and in particular to the cultivation of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape, hitherto a virtual stranger this far East. History has proved them to be correct!

Cabernet Sauvignon makes up 80% of this wine blend, the balance an intriguing combination of indigenous varieties, such as Grenache and Cinsualt, and those seldom found in France . let alone the Languedoc, such as Tempranillo and Nebbiolo.

The parcels are vinified separately, then afforded generous elevage in barriques, some of which are new. Classic aromas of cassis and tobacco box remind one immediately of the Médoc, but behind this there is a herbal richness and notes of plum, licorice and black pepper, the combination of which is as unusual as it is beguiling.

The tannic structure of the wine is the key to its quality; elegance and persistence are both evidenced, and the Cabernet Sauvignon re-asserts itself powerfully on the finish, which is long and satisfying.
(Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer)