Domaines Paul Mas was founded in 1892. The current owner, Jean Claude Mas, is undoubtedly the pioneer in the Languedoc's revival as a region for quality wines. He characterizes his wines as "Le Ruxe Rural," meaning rural luxury. Using international grape varieties, he has given the Languedoc its "new world" allure. He has also made the local character of this region fashionable again among wine lovers. The Languedoc is France's largest wine region and stretches along the Mediterranean coast from the Rhône to the Pyrenees. Eighty percent of France's IGP wines are produced here. The Languedoc is considered France's testing ground for winemaking that meets the tastes of modern consumers. This Viognier is made entirely of this delicious grape variety. The climate in this vineyard is Mediterranean, but on the other side, it is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. The soil is calcareous with a sandy texture and is locally highly siliceous. The quality of the grapes is paramount, so they are harvested partly manually and partly mechanically at night to prevent oxidation. After harvest, fermentation takes place at a constant temperature of sixteen degrees Celsius. Afterward, approximately forty percent of the wine is aged in French and American oak barrels.
Then it's time to taste the wine. In the glass, this white wine is a light golden yellow in color, with fresh aromas of fresh and dried fruit on the nose, such as apricots, white peach, pear, and honey. The palate is rich and aromatic, as befits a Viognier, with a beautiful structure and a surprisingly long finish.
