2025 Domaine Astruc dA Viognier

Jean Astruc, a coachman in Limoux, had a dream: his own wine estate. The dream became reality in 1862 with the acquisition of 12 hectares of vineyard in Malras. His son, Jean Astruc, shared the same ideal and continued acquiring land despite the crisis and his departure to the battlefields of the First World War. In the 1950s, his son Pierre inherited Domaine Astruc. By then, it comprised more than 30 hectares of vineyard and the resources to operate it. In 1977, after completing his studies, Pierre's son, Jacques Astruc, returned to Malras to continue building Domaine Astruc together with his father. In 2003, Jean-Claude Mas entered the picture: 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 primary 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.

Domaines Paul Mas was founded in 1892. The current owner is Jean-Claude Mas, who is undoubtedly the pioneer in the resurgence 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 the Languedoc 'New World' allure. And with his fashionable wines made 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 ones in the Netherlands to carry Paul Mas's high-end Grand Crus .

The Astruc Viognier is a 100% Viognier. The local climate in these vineyards is Mediterranean, but is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. The soil is calcareous with a sandy structure and locally highly gravelly. The grapes are harvested partly by hand and partly mechanically during the night to prevent oxidation. Fermentation takes place at a constant temperature of 16°C. No malolactic fermentation. Subsequently, approximately 40% of the wine ages in French and American oak barrels.

In the glass, this Astruc Viognier is light golden yellow in color, with fresh aromas of fresh and dried fruit on the nose: apricots, white peaches, pear, and honey. On the palate, the wine is rich and aromatic, as befits a Viognier, with a fine structure and a surprisingly long finish. This is a Viognier with an excellent price-quality ratio. The Astruc is delicious as a standalone glass and, of course, a fine accompaniment to fish, seafood, white meat, and fruit desserts.