Chateau Paul Mas
Clos des Mures
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
A deep violet color, this wine has a layered nose of blackcurrants, blackberries, turning to cacao, spices, and flowers. A full bodied wine with black fruit notes, a touch of minerality, and chewy tannins.
Cultivation
The soils are clay and limestone with fossils and limestone rocks. Vines range between 18 and 35 years old.
Vinification
Destemming and separate vinification for each varietal. Fermentation lasts for 8 -10 days for the 3 grape varieties at a maximum temperature of 28°C. Traditional maceration. 20% of the blend undergoes malolactic fermentation in barrels, while the remaining 80% is put in oak barrels after malolactic fermentation.
Aging
The wine is aged for 9 months in French and American oak barrels. 30% new, 35% 1 year old, and 35% 2 year old barrels.
Press
2022:
91 points - Decanter
2020:
92 points - Wine Enthusiast
91 points - Decanter
2019:
90 points - Wine Spectator
2018:
91 points - James Suckling
91 points - Robert Parker
2017:
91 points- Robert Parker
91 points - James Suckling
90 points - Robert Parker
2016:
90 points - Wine Enthusiast
2015:
90 points - Robert Parker
APPELLATION
AOP Languedoc
VARIETAL
Syrah, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre
ABV
14.5%
ALTITUDE
60-120 meters
SOIL
Clay and limestone with fossils
PHILOSOPHY
Sustainable, Terra Vitis
AVERAGE AGE
11-27 years