GRAND CRU OF THE LANGUEDOC: MAS DAUMAS GASSAC
What else can be said about the estate that nearly singlehandedly led the charge for high quality 'Grand Cru'-styled wines from the Languedoc. Their first release was in 1978, and it's no surprise that most buyers at the time were skeptical about spending money on wine from France's 'wine lake', the Languedoc. Yet it was only a few years before this Cabernet Sauvignon heavy diamond in the rough was lavished with adoration from top wine critics and sommeliers. While the intensity of the Languedoc sun can be a challenge to most vignerons, Mas de Daumas Gassac enjoys an exceptionally cooler climate, influenced by the breezes from the Cévennes Mountains to the north, which slow the ripening of the grapes and aid in the retention of natural acidity. This is perfect for balanced Cabernet Sauvignon in this warm region. The final 20% of this Cabernet blend is rounded out with a mix of unusually placed grape varieties the family has been perfecting in the region for the last 40 years: Nebbiolo, Malbec, Dolcetto and more. Those looking for truly interesting wines off France's more beaten paths will find tremendous reward in these wines. The balance is Cabernet Sauvignon's aristocratic fruit and structure is contrasted by the rustic garrigue and minerality offered by the blend's more unusual suspects in a way that is entirely unique in the wine world.