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Domaine du Mas Blanc

Domaine du Mas Blanc is considered by many to be Banyuls' leading estate. It is not an ancient domaine, although there is certainly history here; it was once run by Dr André Parcé, who was instrumental in the creation of the Collioure appellation. His son, Jean-Michel Parcé - a distant relation of Marc Parcé at Domaine de la Rectorie - now runs the show.

Jean-Michel Parcé extols 21 hectares in all, which provides fruit for three different cuvées of Collioure representing three individual vineyards, and several cuvées of Banyuls. Collioure Cuvée Cosprons Levant is sourced from a clay and schist vineyard where the oldest vines are planted. The blend is 60% Syrah, 30% Mourvèdre and 10% Counoise, which are 100% destemmed and fermented together, with mechanical pigeage, before maturing for one year in old barrels. These are usually sourced from notable Bordeaux chateaux. Collioure Cuvée Le Clos du Moulin is sourced from a gravel vineyard, and comprises 80% Mourvèdre and 20% Counoise. Again, this cuvée is aged for one year in old barrels. Finally comes Collioure Cuvée Les Junquets, a blend of Syrah with a small proportion of Marsanne and Roussanne.

The Collioure cuvées are often of exceptional quality, but Mas Blanc also produces excellent Banyuls. Banyuls La Coume is the obvious starting point. This is a single vintage wine, mainly Grenache, with a little Mourvèdre, Carignan, Syrah and Grenache Gris. In more recent vintages this cuvée may be labelled as Rimage La Coume, rimage referring to a vintage wine bottled when young. Banyuls Cuvée St Martin is a more traditional single vintage cuvée which sees extended barrel ageing before bottling. Finally there is Banyuls Hors d'Age, which is the product of a solera system commenced by André Parcé's father in 1955. (14/2/05)

Contact details:
Address: 66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer
Telephone: +33 (0) 4 68 88 32 12
Fax: +33 (0) 4 68 88 72 24
Internet: www.domainedumasblanc.com

Domaine du Mas Blanc - Tasting Notes

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Domaine du Mas Blanc Collioure Les Junquets 2002: Very open, pervasive fruit on the nose. Herby, stony and very attractive in an appealing fashion which is typical of Roussillon. Fresh, detached, but with a lovely, rich extract. Grippy, with firm flavour, a touch funky. Nicely fresh right through to the finish. Well well put together. Good. From a Wine Society tasting. 16.5+/20 (March 2007)

Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls Rimage La Coume 1998: Dark garnet red. Sweet, macerated and baked cherries on the nose, with smoke and molasses sweetness. Beautiful, fresh, balanced wine, yet with full, ripe, explosive flavour. Structured, with sweet and peppery cherry notes and ripe tannin. Grippy, with super length. This is benchmark Banyuls. 18/20 (February 2005) Label

Domaine du Mas Blanc Collioure Cuvée Cosprons Levant 1997: Fairly pale red showing some maturity. Very expressive nose though, full of burnt meat, garrigue and herb, charcoal and roasted fruit. Sweet, creamy texture on the palate, moderate weight, but with a firm structure beneath. Very savoury and sappy, with lovely balance and more than a hint of finesse. Flavours of roast meat, berries and charcoal as on the nose. Very fluid, integrated wine. Drink now. 17/20 (February 2005) Label

Domaine du Mas Blanc Banyuls Rimage La Coume 1993: This has an attractive, deep red hue when poured in the glass. The nose carries sweet plump fruit, notes of toffee as well as a little vegetal axle grease - a rather obtuse aroma to cite I know, but these is without pretence how I interpret this particular scent. It is something I tend to associate more with Pedro Ximénez than with the Grenache-dominated wines of Roussillon. Dark notes of treacle. And there are dried fruits too, raisins and sultanas, a strong seam of dried cranberries and cherries, and also a little brazil nut, as well as a little spirity note wafting in the background, belying the wine's 17% alcohol perhaps. Expansive and readily showing a velvety texture, due in part to the residual sugar, part due to the vein of alcohol running beneath it all, this wine has a firm composition, sweetness but with a good tannic grip underneath, and there is fresh acidity to the fore, intermingled with the wood, nut and toffee-tinged substance, which leads to a rather tightly bound finish. This is really very good indeed, and it is very enjoyable now, although I am quite certain there is no rush with this one. For label images and more see my Wine of the Week write-up. 17+/20 (March 2008)