Vignes de Nicole
⏳ Drinking Window
2021 - 2024
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Grilled ribeye steak, slow-roasted lamb shanks, aged hard cheeses
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the clay-limestone slopes of the Nicole vineyard near Pézenas in the Languedoc, Paul Mas Vignes de Nicole Red is a harmonious marriage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. This cuvée exemplifies Jean-Claude Mas's 'Luxe Rural' philosophy, blending traditional Southern French character with modern winemaking techniques. The grapes are harvested separately, destemmed, and vinified with meticulous temperature control before a portion of the blend is aged in French and American oak barrels for several months. This process imparts a subtle complexity of sweet spices and vanilla to the vibrant blackberry and cocoa notes of the fruit, capturing the warm, sun-drenched essence of the Pays d'Oc.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2000 by fourth-generation vigneron Jean-Claude Mas, Domaines Paul Mas has become a preeminent force redefining modern viticulture in the Languedoc. Blending centuries of familial heritage dating back to 1892 with a contemporary New World dynamism, the estate champions a philosophy Jean-Claude terms 'rural luxury'—delivering site-expressive, terroir-focused wines of tremendous value and character. The extensive vineyard holdings span diverse terroirs across Pézenas, Montagnac, Limoux, and Terrasses du Larzac, anchored by clay-limestone soils, river gravels, and fossil-rich deposits under the moderating influence of Mediterranean sea breezes and cooling Tramontane winds. Viticulture balances widespread organic conversion certified via Ecocert with rigorous HVE Level 3 environmental management. Vinification emphasizes varietal precision, supple extraction, and judicious French and American oak maturation. The producer's benchmark bottlings include the Réserve Single Vineyard Collection La Forge, the organically farmed Mas des Tannes cuvées, and the vibrant, food-friendly Côté Mas portfolio.
🍇 Grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
🍷 ABV
13.5-14%