2021 Domaine Astruc Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Jean Astruc, coachman in Limoux, has a dream: his own wine estate. The dream came true in 1862, with the acquisition of 12 hectares of vineyard in Malras. His son Jean Astruc has the same ideal and, despite the crisis and his departure to the battlefields of the First World War, continues to acquire land. In the fifties, his son Pierre inherits the Domaine Astruc. It then includes more than 30 hectares of vineyard and the means to exploit it. In 1977, after completing his studies, Pierre's son, Jacques Astruc, returned to Malras to continue building the Domaine Astruc with his father.

Jean-Claude Mas entered the picture in 2003: owner and winemaker of Les Domaines Paul Mas, a successful and independent family business in Pezenas, also in the Languedoc. He had been working with Astruc – the main source of their Vin de Pays wines – for a long time and decided to buy the Domaine. The d'A series is the first fruit of this purchase.

The Cabernet vineyards of Domaine Astruc are located at the foot of the Pyrenees and this makes this area a lot cooler than the rest of the Languedoc region, which is a prerequisite for producing wines that offer refinement and elegance. The sea breezes of the Mediterranean Sea have free reign and ensure healthy vineyards without phylloxera or mold. Jean Claude opts for a high plant density so that there is a lot of competition and the plants have to work and have to root deeply. It also ensures that yields are relatively low.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are fermented in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. The wine is then allowed to mature in American oak (70%, a mix of new, one and two year old barrels) and French oak (30%, one and two years old), for six months. In the glass, this Reserve Cabernet is deep purple with a garnet red glow. In the nose we smell notes of mocha, black currants, vanilla and toasted bread. In the mouth the wine is full and rich in taste, fruity with soft tannins. This is simply a nice glass of wine and is an excellent accompaniment to grilled meats, pasta with red sauces and hard cheeses.