Mas Saint Louis Grande Reserne Chateauneuf du Pape 2016
Grape Varietals & Region: Blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault from Châteauneuf du Pape, France.
Mas Saint Louis has been owned by the Geniest family since 1909 and apart from one small parcel of Syrah has all its vineyard holdings in the commune of Sorgues, the southern part of the appellation of Chateauneuf du Pape. The soil type here is a mixture of clay, gravel and sand with a scattering of galets roulets on the surface. This soil combination provides heat during the day but much cooler night time temperatures which help maintain higher levels of acidity in the grapes.
Taste Profile: This ruby red cuvée is dark with hints of crimson. Its nose of candied red fruit goes nicely with its fern-like vegetal notes. Its palate is well-structured, not lacking in freshness, with enveloped tannins and a certain sweetness.
Winemaking Process: At harvest time, the grapes are de-stemmed and then crushed before being pumped into traditional concrete tanks. Both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation take place in tank and the wines are then aged for 18+ months in large, oak casks in order to reduce the primary fruit characteristics in favour of more spicy notes.
