IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO BE
INTRODUCED TO DR. ANDRE PARCE!
No! He is not going to give you a flu shot! Rather,
the good Dr. (who has passed now) was the foremost pioneer in the
Southwest region of France -- the Languedoc-Roussillon.
Did you know that this region has more
viticulture acreage than the entire United States? Dr. Parce was
considered among the most highly esteemed winemakers in all of France.
Now, his son Jean-Michel carries on the tradition producing the wines
from the terraced and hillside vineyard in the tiny appellations of
Collioure and Banyuls at their famed winery
Domaine du Mas Blanc. Are you still with me? Good! These wines are true
rarities, and available in very limited quantities in the United
States. But if you travel to Europe, Domaine du Mas Blanc ("White
Farmhouse") wines are found on more two and three- star Michelin
restaurants' wine lists than any other producer's. Although the following wines have not been reviewed by
any sources, I have noted the most current
rating and vintage by Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate following
each wine's listing.
From the Collioure come three wines
from extremely low yielding , organically farmed, hilltop vineyards
planted in fragmented schistous (stony-gravelly) that are made with a
very non-interventional approach. The grapes are hand picked,
destemmed, fermented by indigenous yeast, gently pressed and aged in
3 vintage old "neutral" French oak barrels. The wines are bottled
unfined and unfiltered to express the true terroir of this unique place!
The Wine Consultant
is one of a hand full of merchants in the US market to receive these
miniscule
quantities of the 2001 Collioures wine from Domaine du Mas Blanc-
"Junquets" - A Cote Rotie style that is made from an intriguing blend of
90% Syrah and cofermented-blended with 5% each of the white Rhone
varietals Roussanne and Marsanne. - $39.95 (2000 - 91 points - WA)
"Cosprons Levant" - From a hilltop vineyard just overlooking the
Mediterranean, a Southern Rhone blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre and
10% Grenache. - $30.95 (2000 - 94 points - WA)
"Clos du Moulin" - A full structured classic from Provence
that showcases Mourvedre's wonderful, intense, ripe fruit aromas and
flavors, but with grace, style and finesse. 90% Mourvedre is held in
check with 10% Counoise. - $35.95 (2000 - 92 points - WA)
These Collioures
wines are trademarked by fabulous depth, character, structure, and
purity of fruit. They are complex wines for the cerebral wine
drinker. Tannins are evident but integrated, and will resolve to
a softer texture with a few years of cellaring. Perfect for Autumn or
Winter game dishes, these black fruited wines should age successfully
for at least 15+ years.
BUT, THAT'S NOT ALL!!!! Domaine du Mas
Blanc is also noted for its RARE fortified red dessert wine from the
Banyuls. Considered to be
France's answer for Porto, and the most perfect wine for chocolate,
this late harvest style Grenache is utterly compelling and must
be sampled to believe.
2002 Banyuls
Rimage - 95% Grenache and
5% Mourvedre (254 grams of sugar per liter at harvest) and fortified by
adding neutral spirits to stop the fermentation. Primary fruit aromas
of raspberry and cherry with nuances of gingerbread and maple syrup.
On the palate everything is chocolate coated! 30+ years aging
potential. Only 12 - 375 ml. bottles available - $22.95 (2001 - 90 points - WA)
2002 Banyuls Rimage
Cuvee la Coume - This wine
used to come from a 1.25 hectare (2.47 acres to a hectare) parcel
that was reduced in half by a brush fire in 2000. The vines have been
replanted, but it will be many years before production will return to
normal (just less than one ton per acre). Composed of 90% Grenache, 5%
Mourvedre and 5% Syrah and again fortified with neutral spirits, the La
Coume is considered to be one of the greatest
dessert wines in the world. Opulent, port-like with a Satiny
texture, candied black fruits, exotic spices and turkish pipe
tobacco. A finish that goes on for a full minute. Aging
potential of 50+ years. Only 12- 375 ml. bottles available -
$35.95 (2000 -
94 points - WA)
ORDER NOW BY REPLY EMAIL!
All ORDERS WILL BE CONFIRMED BY REPLY EMAIL WITH YOUR INVOICE #.
A 3 BOTTLE SET of the Collioure
wines (one bottle of each) - $99.95
OPTION!
For every 3 bottle set of the
Collioure wines purchased, you may select one of the
375 ml. bottles of Banyuls -
2002
Rimage - $22.95
or
Cuvee
La Coume - $35.95
(while supply lasts!)
Passionate about wine!
Eric Stumpf
The Wine Consultant
8039 Greenback Lane
Citrus Heights, CA 95610
(916) 721-WINE (9463)
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