2022 Paul Mas Le Marcel Gris de Gris Rural Couture Rosé

Domaines Paul Mas was founded in 1892. The current owner, Jean-Claude Mas, is without doubt the pioneer in the revival of the Languedoc as a region for quality wines. Jean-Claude characterizes his wines as 'Le Luxe Rural', rural luxury. With international grape varieties he has given Languedoc a 'new world' allure. And with his fashionable wines from local grapes, he has made the local character of the Languedoc hip again among wine lovers. Hubrecht Duijker rightly calls Jean-Claude Mas a 'wine wizard' and at Grandcruwijnen we are the only one in the Netherlands to also carry the high-end Grandcrus of Paul Mas.

A 'Marcel' is French for a sleeveless shirt. Just like the shirt, the Le Marcel Gris de Gris Rosé by Domaines Paul Mas is relaxed, straightforward and summery. Each bottle of Le Marcel has a label in the shape of a shirt. There are six different designs for the shirts: from Tie-Dye, to Californian Sunset to Marinière Stripes. Each box contains a random mix of shirts. How nice is that?!

The 2020 Le Marcel Gris de Gris Rosé comes from vineyards in a dry lagoon, with a lot of clay and limestone. It is a 100% Grenache Gris. The vines are about 20 years old. After harvesting, the grapes are immediately destemmed. After a short skin maceration (to extract colour), the grapes are pressed and fermented. The wine is aged for three months in steel tanks on the yeast cells (sur lie), which provide extra creaminess and complexity. In the glass, this rosé has the typical light pink like many southern French and Provence Rosés. In the nose, the wine is alive, expressive with notes of red fruit, such as raspberries, a hint of strawberry and some peach. The evenness is also reflected in the mouth, but also the good balance between the fruit and the acids. Wonderfully fresh, beautifully fruity and is perfect on the terrace, as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to a charcuterie board, but also with an Indian curry.