Chardonnay en Merlot Cadeau

Cardboard wine bottle bag with window, red.

The Paul Mas Astruc Chardonnay Reserve is a 95% wood-aged Chardonnay with 5% Mauzac, so a wine with that famous butter. The wine is full-bodied but surprisingly light and lively, rich and with remarkable length. After picking, the wine is slowly fermented at a low temperature of 16°C with partial malolactic fermentation (60%) so that the acids are preserved and the wine does not become woolly as often happens with barrique chardonnays. The wine is allowed to mature in oak barrels, of which 1/3 new and 2/3 2 years old. Half of these barrels are French, the other half American. In the glass, the Asstruc Chardonnay Reserve has a light fresh golden yellow color with intense notes of flowers, a little brioche and vanilla and notes of pineapple, lime and quince in the nose. Gold Medal at the Chardonnay du Monde 2019

The Merlot for the Astruc comes from various vineyards around Limoux in the Languedoc. There is a Mediterranean climate. The vines are 18 to 26 years old. In the glass, the Astruc Merlot is ruby red with purple hues. On the nose, wine is lush, fruity with mocha, blackcurrant and plum. In the mouth the wine is full bodied with dark fruit (cassis, blackcurrant) and ripe tannins. As is the case with the entire Astruc series, these are beautiful wines with an excellent price/quality ratio and give a nice glass of wine to simply enjoy and this Merlot is an excellent accompaniment to sausages and stews with veal or lamb.