Mas Amiel Grenache Blend Maury 2008

Winemaker's Notes:

Maury is surrounded by the Rivesaltes appellation. The mountains to the north denote the end of Corbieres and of the Aude department. Maury is thus in Pyrenees-Orientales and thus Catalan in nature. As Paul Strang vividly writes: 'It lives in the shadow of the Cathar stronghold of Quéribus, the massive profile of whose tower dominates the landscape for miles around. If you come down from these heights the soil suddenly changes. Everywhere there is black schist, sometimes as dark as coal; the vines brilliant green, their tufts flowing freely in the Tramontane wind, looks as if they have been planted in the ashes of the Cathar martyrs who were burnt alive for their faith in the mountains of the South'. The story of Mas Amiel begins in 1816 when Raymond Amiel won the deeds to the property from the Bishop of Perpignan in a game of cards. If the [ it until his death in 1916. Charles's son, Jean took over and started to produce high quality wine under the Mas Amiel label. He extended the vineyard, digging up the hillside to plant new vines. The Maury Blanc is from old Grenache Gris vines on schistous slopes. Yields are a miserly 15hl/ha, Vinification is at 18c followed by a mutage to adjust the alcohol. The wine is then aged in tank on the fine lees. It has a beautiful limpid colour with hints of green and a mineral stone evoking warm stones and orange blossom which develops further with aeration to unveil fresh brioche and pollen. In the mouth it is lively, round and supple and unleashes panoply of flavours: boxwood, star fruit, mandarin and juniper to name but few. An adaptable food wine, which served chilled, would make an excellent aperitif. Thon mi cuit au sel de Guérande et fenouil, langouste tiède aux agrumes, soupe de fruits blancs au gingembre.