Few winemakers have come to define their region like Mas de Daumas Gassac has with the Languedoc. What sets Mas de Daumas Gassac apart is their unflinching commitment to pushing the boundaries — of the appellation’s rules, of conventional farming techniques, of “expected” grape varieties.

Aimé and Véronique Guibert purchased the land in the early 1970s; they had planned to start a farm, but weren’t sure what type of crops they wanted to grow. It took convincing from a Bordeaux-based soil scientist, who saw great grape-growing potential in the limestone-rich land, as densely mineral-laden as Burgundy’s Côte d’Or.

Making wine in the Languedoc is nothing new — the Greeks and Romans were doing it millennia ago. In planting their estate to vines, the Guiberts chose to buck local tradition and plant a wide (very wide) assortment of international grapes; there’s Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, sure, but also Petite Arvine, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo and more. Prior to owning the estate, the Guiberts traveled the world as part of a family leather business, and became enamored with grapes from far-off and exotic locales.

What importer Polaner Selections has to say about this wine...

Varietal Notes
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Mourvedre, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Petit Manseng and Muscat
Vineyard
From younger Mas de Daumas Gassac vineyards. Terroir de Gassac Valley. Cool microclimate derived from Gassac River and nearby mountains and sea.
Soil
White clay and Lutetian limestone
Viticulture
Estate has been farmed in the traditional and natural way for a thousand years before the Guibert family established the Grand Crus vineyard of Gassac. The Guiberts have maintained the same respectful approach to preserve nature's balance. 45hl/ha
Vinification
The Cabernet Sauvignon is hand-picked at about 10° alcohol. The free run juice (saignée) is sent to an airtight stainless steel tank where it ferments on it own with nothing added to it -- no dosage, no liquor, no gas, no sugar, no yeast. This single fermantation is referred to as Method Charmat. While similar to Petillant Natural, the difference is that the fermentation does not take place in bottle.
Aging
Closed stainless steel tank