Mas de Daumas Gassac Blanc 2019
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James
Suckling - Decanter
Product Details
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Blend: 36% Viognier, 24% Petite Manseng, 22% Chardonnay, 18% Chenin
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has aromas of white pepper, baked apple, pineapple, white tea, smoked almond and papaya. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a round, creamy and lightly oily texture. Richly flavorful with plenty of ripe fruit and spice. Long. 31% viognier, 23% petit manseng, 13% chardonnay, 5% chenin blanc and 28% rare varieties.
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Decanter
Mas de Daumas Gassac white is a complex, unwooded blend of Viognier, Petit Manseng, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, plus smaller quantities of other varieties. Its emphasis lies on perfume (from extended skin maceration) and balanced freshness, with the richness of ripe Viognier and Chardonnay being offset by the zest of Petit Manseng and early-picked Chenin Blanc. The low-yielding 2019 is light straw-gold in colour, with expressive nectarine, almond, pineapple, thyme flower and floral honey on the nose, and a bright, juicy yet structured and mouthfilling flavour. Look out for the cleansing, stony finish, too. The 'white alternative' pick.
Other Vintages
2022-
James
Suckling
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Robert
Parker
- Decanter
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
• soil so deep that the vine roots are forced to seek nourishment at great depth,
• soil so perfectly drained that it retains almost no humidity even after the most violent rainfall,
• soil so poor that the vine suffers to the very limits of endurance, thus creating unique aromas of exceptional originality.
At Daumas Gassac, every effort is made to protect the wild and natural beauty of the Gassac Valley and to preserve the "garrigue," the dominating feature of the landscape. The choice was made to create vineyards in small parcels or little clearings, engulfed by the extensive surrounding "garrigue". The wines at Daumas Gassac are, thus, enriched by the innumerable scents of Mediterranean shrubs packed tightly round the clearings. This practice which develops the individuality of the "terroir" is in complete contrast to modern viticultural techniques which tend towards vast areas of production with no other vegetation except for vines.
All our plants come from very old non-cloned vines. With our 6,000 plants per hectare we have 6,000 original plants instead of one single clone. Low yields, but prodigious richness and ability to stimulate all the senses. The introduction of clones is responsible for a dramatic decline in individuality to the advantage of standardization and high yields.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
An extensive appellation producing a diverse selection of good quality and great values, Languedoc spans the Mediterranean coast from the Pyrenees mountains of Roussillon all the way to the Rhône Valley. Languedoc’s terrain is generally flat coastal plains, with a warm Mediterranean climate and frequent risk of drought.
Virtually every style of wine is made in this expansive region. Most dry wines are blends with varietal choice strongly influenced by the neighboring Rhône Valley. For reds and rosés, the primary grapes include Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. White varieties include Grenache Blanc, Muscat, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino, Macabéo, Clairette, Piquepoul and Bourbelenc.
International varieties are also planted in large numbers here, in particular Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The key region for sparkling wines here is Limoux, where Blanquette de Limoux is believed to have been the first sparkling wine made in France, even before Champagne. Crémant de Limoux is produced in a more modern style.