Mas de Lavail Maury Expression 2021 - Maury, France

17/20 Bettane et Desseauve (2016 vintage)
15.5/20 Bettane et Desseauve (2014 vintage)
15/20 Bettane et Desseauve (2012 vintage)
Bronze - Wine Spectator (2011 vintage)

2 Stars - Le Guide Hachette des Vins (2020 vintage)
2 Stars - Le Guide Hachette des Vins (2012 vintage)

Organic

This Maury sweet red wine from Domaine Mas de Lavail is a vin doux naturel Maury; a Port-like sweeter style fortified wine similar to Banyuls, in this case made from 100% old-vine Black Grenache.

Bettane et Desseauve "Dressed in purple, on the nose it reveals black fruit, spices, floral notes. On the palate, what a fine example of balance. Dense, velvety tannins draw a successful triptych with freshness and softness, the aromatic complexity gives a long and caressing persistence. A jewel." (2016 vintage)

Bettane et Desseauve "Nice full and complex wine." (2014 vintage)

Bettane et Desseauve "Beautiful classic type, generous, on cocoa and cherry, good tannins, both voluptuous and energetic." (2012 vintage)

Wine Spectator "Sweet and fresh, with plenty of plum and chocolate mousse notes. Cherry tart and cream accents linger on the bright finish. " (2011 vintage)

Winemaker "Brilliant deep garnet colour. On the nose, complex aromas of blackberry, fresh fig. Nice amplitude in the mouth and good structure."

100% Grenache Noir

Organic wines are made from grapes grown without pesticides, following strict organic standards. Organic wines are produced in vineyards that do not use synthetic chemicals.

Mas de Lavail is a family-owned estate in the heart of the Maury Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, one of the oldest Appellations in the area of Roussillon, which was designated in 1936. The winery, Mas de Lavail was founded in 1999 with the purchase of the property by the Batlle family. The estate is situated in the heart of the MAURY Appellation, surrounded by the two ranges of the Corbières, on clay-limestone soil.

Part of their land stretches beneath the Cathar castle of Quéribus, resting on black schist soils. The name "Maury" derives from these black lands, known for their unique ability to retain the Sun's heat and release it to the vines during the cooler evenings. As a result, the Grenache and Carignan grapes show the estate's devotion to their terroir and winemaking craft which is evident in the exceptional wines they produce.

Organic agricultural practices are now at the forefront of the wine-growing approach to achieve full organic certification, alongside the preservation of existing biodiversity. Clearly, Grenache is the star here, as per the requirement of the Maury and newly designated Maury Sec AOCs, however, Syrah and Carignan (both Blanc and Noir) are far from just supporting acts, in fact producing stunning examples. Cropping is averaged at 29 HL per hectare across the domain, with the estate ranges at far less, and production levels of less than 10,000 cases annually point to grapes with exceptional concentration.

Maury is a small wine-producing village located in the Roussillon region of southern France. It is renowned for its sweet, fortified wines known as ""Vin Doux Naturel"" (VDN), which are made using the Grenache grape variety. Maury wines are often compared to the better-known Muscat-based VDNs from the nearby regions of Rivesaltes and Banyuls. Maury is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) and almost all wines are red, made from at least 75% Grenache noir (Garnacha). Other permitted grapes are Grenache blanc, Grenache gris, Macabeu (Macabeo), Malvoisie du Roussillon (Tourbat), Syrah, Muscat and other local varieties. Although the grapes are different, they are used and marketed very much like port. It is made in the communes of Maury, Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet, Lesquerde, Tautavel and Rasiguères. The AOC was granted in 1936.[3][4][5]

Maury is a ""vin doux naturel"" style created by adding fortifying spirits, such as brandy, to the wine in mid-fermentation. This halts the activities of the wine yeast leaving the wine with ""natural"" residual sugars. Maury is vinified in a manner similar to port, but initial aging is often conducted in large 25 liter glass jugs known as bonbonnes, les dames jeannes or demi-johns. The wines may also be aged in wood for up to 15 years. The resulting wines vary in depth and concentration.

In food and wine pairings, Maury is often served as an apéritif or as an accompaniment to foie gras, duck and strong blue cheeses.

Grenache is a red-wine grape grown extensively in France, Spain, Australia and the United States and is one of the most widely distributed grapes in the world. Grenache is the French name for the grape, but it has a number of synonyms. In Spain, where it is one of the country's flagship varieties, it is known as Garnacha, and on the island of Sardinia it has been known for centuries as Cannonau. In France, Grenache is most widely planted in the southern Rhone Valley and throughout both Provence and Languedoc-Roussillon. It is most commonly found alongside Syrah and Mourvedre in the classic Southern Rhone Blend (notably in Cotes du Rhone wines), and is the main grape variety in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.