Mas Amiel - Muscat doux 2011

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

In Maury, Mas Amiel boasts 150 hectares of vines in production, spread over 132 parcels, dominated by the Cathar château of Quéribus. Olivier Decelle (also owner of Château Jean Faure in Saint-Émilion) has worked as a patron of the arts, gradually restoring the estate to a perfect state of production, assisted since 2007 by Nicolas Raffy, a lover of the land. With the conversion to biodynamic viticulture, the expression of the wines will certainly evolve further in the years to come. While natural sweet wines have not been abandoned, far from it, the emphasis has been placed on the production of very modern dry wines, with a wide range covering all styles. An unmissable source!

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A regular feature in the Guide, this estate, a benchmark in the Maury appellation, has produced a Muscat with a sparkling color, well enhanced by a slender bottle. Blind-tasting jurors appreciated the nose, which opens on aeration with intense notes of fresh citrus fruit, lemon blossom and verbena liqueur. Very round and mellow on the palate, the wine evolves on nuances of eucalyptus and candied lemon. A perfect match for chicken tagine with lemons or grapefruit salad with shrimp. And let's not forget more traditional pairings with foie gras or desserts.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Incorporating, as usual, 20% Muscat d'Alexandrie, Muscat de Rivesaltes 2011 reveals notes of lemon and grapefruit, with real juiciness. Characteristic marjoram, sage and black pepper add to garrigue accents. Mas Amiel manages to keep a refreshing edge and liveliness to a wine often overwhelmed by sweetness in others. The finish is vibrant, and makes you want to take the next sip. Irresistible.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

In the heart of the Maury terroir, at the foot of the hillside, a large building and rows of demi jeannes in which nectars age for a year in the sun, before moving on to the tuns for decades. Mas Amiel, the first born of the Olivier Decelle galaxy, is a page in Roussillon history. An estate that celebrates the tradition of great natural sweet wines, while renewing itself in dry wines, with a refined, sanguine and very precise style, supported by a heritage of old vines. Nicolas Raffy, a talented Catalan winemaker, raises the bar for wines made from calcoschists, black marl and granite. He has identified steep plots, and adapted his blends, ageing and harvest dates so that the dry Maury wines join the VDNs at the top. Today, the domaine is unquestionably one of the great references. In recent years, progress on the dry side has been spectacular. The third star is approaching.

James Suckling