Mas de Daumas Gassac - 'Vin de Laurence' Vin de Liqueur 2020

"VIN DE LIQUEUR" - VINTAGE 2020

Little "masterpiece" from the "old wine grower"! But a masterpiece in the olden days’ sense of unremitting, skilled work – only produced in a very special vintage such as 1997, 1998, 2007 & 2011. The Vin de Laurence comes in an old 50 cl black glass bottle, packed in an engraved wooden box, with the Mas de Daumas Gassac logo.

The two leading lights in this unconventional wine are:

• Sercial, a mysterious grape from the island of Madeira that develops intriguing aromas of acidity, bitterness and pepper!
• The other is our very own Languedoc star, the Muscat petit grain from Mireval.

Each grape has an average yield of ten hectolitres per hectare.

The Vin de Laurence is created from a painstaking double fermentation. First the Sercial, harvested before it ripens; then the Muscat is added to the acid Sercial wine for a second fermentation. The Muscat is harvested much later, in October when the sun has baked it to near caramel before it’s crushed.
When picked, the Muscat alcohol potential is close to 20°C.
Once blended, the Vin de Laurence is then aged for 8 to 10 years in five to six years old oak barrel!

The result of this Franco-Portuguese alchemy is a fleshy, rich amber colored wine, incredibly complex, where the Muscat’s sweetness merges with the Sercial’s acidity, to tease and delight your palate. It ends with the candied characteristics of the over-ripe grapes predominant.

Drink from a port glass, slightly chilled. Not easy to forget!

About the Winery: Mas de Daumas Gassac has an important place in the history of French wine. Founded by Aime and Veronique Guibert, they showed the world that serious wines could be made in Languedoc, which at that time was fully given to plonk production.  Lots of plonk is still made in this enormous region, but in the wake of Daumas Gassac a sizable band of quality producers have emerged.

The 40 hectare vineyard is based on a historic ‘terroir’ that was rediscovered in the 1970s by Henry Enjalbert, a professor of geography. Visiting the property, he was amazed by the potential of its limestone-based soils and moderate climate, and that encouraged owners Aimé and Véronique Guibert to plant a vineyard. 

Today, winemaker Samuel Guibert and his four brothers each manage different aspects of the family business.

The valley, which benefits from the nearby sea and mountains, is dotted with a patchwork of small, forest-enclosed parcels that span over 40 different grape varieties. This rare and diverse assortment, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, make up the unique Gassac blends, often referred to as the Grand Crus of the Midi (South of France). The upper Gassac valley enjoys a cool microclimate, and vines have been planted in 50 small plots amidst the surrounding garrigue. Viticulture is organic.