VDF "Navis" 2020 - Mas d'Agalis

Very elegant red wine of 50% Syrah, 40 Grenache and 10% Carignan from the Languedoc. Unmistakable for the extremely warm area and yet with an admirable softness. Dark ripe candied fruit with very digestible tannins. Beautifully balanced thanks to the freshness and a lot of depth. Serious and structured and full of aromas of dried provincial herbs. One that is already very beautiful but also a very nice candidate for the cellar. Delicious with beef bourguignon or Pot au feu.

Mas d'Agalis is located in Nébian, some 20 kilometres north of the rustic town of Pézenas in the Languedoc. In 2004, fourth-generation winegrower Lionel Maurel decided to do things a little differently than his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Instead of selling his grapes to large cooperatives at low prices, he decided to make his own wine. After a period of work experience with other winegrowers (including Thierry Allemand and Didier Barral), he settled in Nébian, Languedoc, some 40km northwest of Montpellier. His grapes grow spread over 8 hectares on terraces from the Villafranchien period, characterised by white quartz gravel. According to Lionel, every wine must be the result of the quality of the terroir and the climatic conditions of the year. And yet, despite the hot (read: very HOT) climate, he manages to produce light, soft and elegant wines.

Lionel works as naturally as possible in the vineyard and in the cellar. His vineyards have been cultivated naturally since 2004.

• Country / Region: France / Languedoc
• Grape variety: 50% Syrah, 40 Grenache, 10% Carignan
• In the vineyard: Hand-picked in late August, early September. Grapes are destemmed and sorted by type before maceration. Organic farming
• In the basement: Spontaneous fermentation on own yeasts for 15 days. Gentle extraction. 18 months maturation in wooden barrels. Lightly filtered and <2g/Hl So2 at bottling.
• Quality mark: Ecocert - organic