Chateau Paul Mas
Belluguette
Château Paul Mas is located between Pézenas and Montpellier, 10 km from the Mediterranean. The vineyards cover 162 hectares across the Languedoc, Languedoc Pézenas, Grés de Montpellier and Pays d’Oc appellations. These sites also provide the fruit for the Paul Mas Réserve line of wines. The vines are grown in an exceptional setting, surrounded by olive trees, pine forests, oak trees, and orchards–they enjoy exposure from the north, south, and west, and are cooled by the Mistral and Tramontane winds. The grapes are heavily influenced by the gravelly clay and limestone soils on the hillsides of the Herault valley, and the chalky, fossil-rich soils on the hills of the Thau marshes. The vines are grown using sustainable viticulture practices, with portions of the vineyards being organic or certified Terra Vitis.
Tasting Notes
Deep lemon color with a pale rim. The nose is intense and complex with aromas of tropical fruits (ripe mango, melon, pineapple) combined with fresh baked bread and vanilla. This powerful white is rich and creamy in texture with a lingering finish.
Cultivation
The Belluguette vineyard is predominantly limestone soil with gravel. Vines range between 9 and 21 years old.
Vinification
Grape destemming, separate vinification for each grape variety. Racking at 10°C. The Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne are first fermented in stainless still vats and then in new barrels. The Vermentino and Grenache are vinified in stainless steel. Fermentation lasts for 20 days at 16°C.
Aging
The different varietals age in different barrels or vats until the final blend in March. The barrels are 40% American oak and 60% French oak.
Press
2022:
91 points - Decanter
2020:
90 points - Wine Enthusiast
2018:
90 points - Wine Spectator
89 points - Robert Parker
2017:
89 points - Wine Spectator
2016:
90 points - Wine Spectator
APPELLATION
AOP Languedoc
VARIETAL
45% Grenache Blanc, 30% Vermentino, 15% Roussanne, 10% Viognier
ABV
14%
ALTITUDE
40-110 metres
SOIL
Clay soil with rocks
PHILOSOPHY
Sustainable, Terra Vitis
AVERAGE AGE
9-21 years