France | Languedoc Roussilon | Domaine Rimbert | Saint-Chinian Les Mas au Schiste

Saint-Chinian Les Mas au Schiste

Varietals
50% Syrah, 25%Carignan, 25% Grenache

Notes
VINEYARD: As the name suggests, this wine is informed by the unusual schist soils in which the vineyards lie. Le Mas au Schiste translates to "pile of schiste." It is also the way the French pronounce "masochiste." All puns fully intended. Taken from the domaine's oldest vines on the steepest terraced vineyards covered in the famed slippery schiste rock, these vineyards are incredibly hard to work, rendering any kind of mechanization impossible. The name is a testament to Jean-Marie's simultaneous dedication to his land and his self-deprecating humor. This inspired and hard won cuvée has become the domaine's flagship - demonstrating both serious depth, complexity, and structure while remaining elegant and lifted. With its arid climate that protects it from vine diseases more common in wetter regions, Languedoc has long been a leader in organic farming practices. Certified organic.

VINIFICATION: Partially de-stemmed, fermented with native yeasts in stainless and enamel lined tanks with limited sulfur use. Two-week maceration with 1 pigeage per day. Aged sur lies for 12 months in 3-13 year old Burgundy barrels. Light filtration.

TASTING NOTES: The wine all but jumps out of the glass with a lively acidity and earthiness that frame its delicious red and dark fruit notes, along with touches of black licorice, flowers, and herbs. Because it is only partially aged in oak, the wood is very much in the background, allowing the wine to give us a real sense of its terroir.