Mas de Daumas Gassac, France’s legendary winery...
Today is a meeting with the last participant of the Yellow Road this year - the legendary winery from France Mas de Daumas Gassac. France has already been represented by winemakers from Burgundy, Nantes, Provence and Bordeaux. Now the region Languedoc.
So, the first results of the project ... Twenty-six participants from Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland ... But most of all there were participants from Italy: Veneto, Friuli-Venezia-Julia, Piedmont, Tuscany, Umbria, Sardinia, Sicily ... And even two (special guest ) guest of the road who did not have white wine (or was, but in a small amount), and there was olive oil of the highest quality, and even one guest with red wine.
In total, for the first six months of work, the site was visited by about 70,000 people. Immediately after the New Year, the author of the project will try to organize for his Vilnius friends an amateur wine tasting from the “Yellow Road”. And for winemakers - participants of this competition prizes will be prepared: 3-5 pictures, photos of which will be published here on the site. The winners awarding scheme will be very simple: three, five or six participants, whose wine we like more than other wines, will all be named winners of the competition. And the first issue (gold) chooses a picture that he likes more than others. The second number (silver) chooses from the remaining 2- 4, etc. Those winemakers who have sent their wine for tasting have already been allowed to participate in the competition automatically.
France’s legendary winery Mas de Daumas Gassac is expanding its presence in Asia and is releasing its latest vintages for 2018.
(press release for 2018, which I saw on the company's website)
Despite its modest designation and location in the South of France, in the Languedoc commune of Aniane, the Mas de Daumas Gassac vineyard is universally revered for its outstanding red and white wines. Out of its 2016 vintage, only 7,500 cases were produced, with some set to be released in spring 2018. The family winery, founded by Véronique and Aimé Guibert – and now run by their four sons Samuel, Gaël, Roman and Basile – has single-handedly rewritten the history of winemaking for the region of Languedoc. Known for a century as a place where only cheap table wines were produced, the Guiberts were instrumental in showing that this region in the south of France could produce world-class wines. For 2018, the winery is presenting its Red Grand Vin 2016, produced with the estate’s new press which has allowed for unparalleled extraction. This wine, produced from 40-year-old vines, has a high freshness, and tastes of ripe fruits such as cassis. To be drunk while young, this is an explosive vintage not to be missed. The estate is renowned for its whites and for 2018, it is releasing its White Grand Vin 2016. It features the Mas de Daumas Gassac white signature: exotic fruits and light sap notes; a fresh finish and a dash of saltiness. This well- carved profile is made up of 8.1% rare grape varieties. Mas de Daumas Gassac’s wines are grown on a “magic” terroir strikingly similar to the best of Burgundy, and cool microclimate gifting finesse and complexity to its vintages. It is here that Véronique and Aimé Guibert, first- time wine-makers, made their home and developed the Mas de Daumas Gassac wines, which are today still grown on 52 small vineyard plots amongst 3,000 hectares of protected forest. Their sons still see to the old ways of winemaking, ensuring that the wine is conceived and aged following European traditions with the highest standards. The estate has earned a rare “cult” status since being founded in the 1970s. French gastronomic guide Gault & Millau hailed the winery as the “Lafite Rothschild of the Languedoc”, and The Times compared its vintages to “Latour”. British wine critic Michael Broadbent ranked its vintages among the 10 best in the world, while wine guru Robert Parker applauded them as “exceptional”. In 1991, the estate also debuted its Moulin de Gassac selection, which was voted the world’s best wine by the International Wine Challenge in London just two years later. These compelling, single vineyard wines are the estate’s range of accessible vintages that combine elegance and freshness, and reflect the Mas de Daumas Gassac philosophy and craft. These are now marketed in 90 different countries.
The questions of "YR" are answered by the Samuel Guibert, owner/winemaker of the MAS DAUMAS GASSAC
1 - What can the readers of the "Yellow Road" learn about the owners of the vineyard MAS DAUMAS GASSAC?
The Mas de Daumas Gassac estate was founded by Aimé & Veronique Guibert in the late 60’s and became the pioneer vineyard for Grands Crus wine quality in the region. Daumas Gassac is now ran by the 2nd generation (since 2000) - Basile, roman, Gael & Samuel Guibert (4 brothers)
2 - You have two vineyards: DAUMAS GASSAC and MOULIN DE GASSAC. Is there a significant difference between them?
The Mas de Daumas Gassac is the original Grand Crus vineyard, founded by Aimé & Veronique Guibert in the late 60’s and pioneer of the fine wine of the Languedoc region. these vineyard are located on the unique and “magic” Gassac terroir, organically farmed since the beginning of the 19th century. Our vineyard is organic because our spirit and our beliefs lean naturally toward respect for and protection of the earth, the environment and nature. No insecticides, weed killers or chemical fertilisers have ever been used at Daumas Gassac. Horse and sheep manure are the only organic supplement enriching the earth. The birds from the hedgerows and the scrub surrounding the vines are our natural pesticides.
The Moulin de Gassac vineyards were founded toward the end of the 80’s from some of the best stony hillside vineyards overlooking the Mediterranean sea (Villeveyrac area), this beautiful area of old vines is known for producing some of the lowest yields resulting in generous, original wines. These wines enable you to discover the fascinating terroir and diversity of our region and offer some of the best value for money wine one can find.
3 - What is your favorite wine (red or white)? And why?
The Mas de Daumas Gassac white because it allies everything - explosive aromas, very complex and lengthy palate, freshness and ageability.
Four noble grape varieties, all estate farmed, dominate: Viognier from the Rhône, Petit Manseng from the Pyrenees, Chenin from the Loire and Chardonnay from Burgundy, (20 percent of each) completed with about 15 grape varieties from some of the most famous wine regions around the world. They merge brilliantly to create the outstandingly well balanced white Daumas Gassac. The blend of these 20 grape varieties gives birth to a Grand Vin, pure and fresh, with mouth-watering fruity savours and a voluptuous texture.
4 - List, if possible, a set (gift box) of four own wines (red and white), which, in your opinion, can adequately represent your farm.
Mas de Daumas Gassac rouge
Mas de Daumas Gassac blanc
Mas de Daumas Gassac rosé Frisant
And cuvée Emile Peynaud (only a production of 200 bottles every 5-6 years)
5 - Your vineyards are located in beautiful places. Have you thought about building your own tourist way.. What will be the length of the route? And what attractions in your area would you recommend to visit?
We already have our own touristic & cultural way with most people visiting the Mas de Daumas Gassac estate, usually continue to discover the stunning village of St Guilhem Le Desert (from the 8th century) and magnificent Heart valley.
This can be done in half a day
6 - Your Choice for the Yellow Road of white (yellow) wine?
Picture of Daumas Gassac white wine with food
7 - You can offer the most spectacular view (favorite point) on vineyards or the surrounding landscape.
50 ha of deep and well-drained soil, free of pesticides, fertilisers and chemicals, the terroir of Mas de Daumas Gassac, similar to
the best parts of Burgundy, was rediscovered in 1971 by Henri Enjalbert, Professor of Geology at Bordeaux University, who considered the Gassac valley to be “the ideal and unique terroir to produce a Grand Vin”. The Estate is divided into more than fifty-two
small vineyard plots amongst 3.000 hectares of protected forest.
8 - If it's not a secret, what are your plans for the future?
Further the distribution of the Mas de Daumas Gassac wines throughout the world and continue bringing Excellency to all the wine lovers from our estate.
9 - What is your favorite restaurant in ANIANE? And what would you recommend? Where, in addition to the winery, tourists can try your wine?
Our Favourite restaurant in the vicinity is called “De Lauzun” , located in the little charming town of Pézénas, one star Michelin. Authentic Mediterranean food with a marvellous local wine list.
10 - What kind of platform can you offer for the cultural program Yellow Road: exhibition space, cinema hall, etc. Or do you have your own cultural projects?
We collaborate every year with Cinemed: International festival of Mediterranean cinema. We are also sponsor of the Music festival from our village Saint Guilhem le desert. And every summer we have an evening concert in the estate inviting some international Jazz groups.
For us, it is extremely important to promote our Mediterranean culture, our patrimoine and of our course our lovely wines from Languedoc. We created also a wine festival “Festival des vins d’Aniane” which is becoming bigger every year in order to invite the best winemakers from our village Aniane and showing the quality of our fabulous wines coming from Aniane terroir.
11 - Which white wine producer (from France or another country) would you recommend for the Yellow Road?
Raveneau from Chablis
Sergey Evtuhov, author of the project "Yellow Road" and Victorine BABE, export area Manager (Mas Daumas Gassac).
