The very affable and enthusiastic Luc Baudet, owner of Chateau Mas Neuf in Costieres de Nimes was in town yesterday and I was invited to join him and his local representative, Lester Harvey of Zen Asia, for a tasting and dinner.
Lester also took the opportunity to show off some of his recent listings from New Zealand.
Astrolabe Voyage Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - Lovely, slightly grassy, clean, herbal aroma. This wine has great definition given by the refreshing acidity. There's just enough ripe fruit to keep it from being austere. I'm not big on Sauv Blanc but this is excellent.
Spy Valley Envoy Riesling 2007 - From Marlborough. Green apples and apple skins. This is quite sweet but has the acidity to carry the sweetness. Probably a spatlese in German terms. This could probably acquit itself quite well if put up against some good German wine. A great match for my roast pork and sauerkraut.
Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay Trinity Merlot/Cabernets/Syrah 2004 - Dusty and dry. Leather and tobacco. It seems this is starting to dry out.
We then proceeded to the Chateau Mas Neuf wines:
Chateau Mas Neuf Black Toro 2007 - VdP d'Oc. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon. I can't recall the remaining 10%. Hefty, spicy, rich. Rather tannic. A serious wine for the price. Very good.
Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Rouge 2007 - Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre. Rich, ripe fruit. Very forward. Good length. Good.
Chateau Mas Neuf La Mourvache 2005 - Grenache and Mourvedre. Very sweet nose underneath which there is a slightly earthy note. Sweet fruit with lots of flavor. Medium-bodied and already drinking very well.
Chateau Mas Neuf Compostelle 2007 - Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre. Plummy, baking spices. Sweet, spicy finish. Warm. Very approachable with lovely balance. Excellent.
Chateau Mas Neuf Armonio 2005 - Grenache/Merlot/Cabernet. An unusual combination of grapes but maybe not so surprising as Luc's partner is Louis Mitjaville of Chateau Tertre Roteboeuf in Saint Emilion. Again very ripe and sweet. Luc says he usually picks his fruit up to 2 weeks after the start of the regular harvest. The oak is quite strong and not yet absorbed by the wine. Strong black coffee and black fruits. Needs time to come together.
Chateau Mas Neuf Armonio 2004 - I tried this the first time during Luc's first visit to Manila last year. It was extremely tannic and closed at that time. Now it is showing bright acidity, toffee, and some herbal Cabernet character. The fruit is much more in evidence now although the tannins are still quite strong. Maybe another 3 years in bottle will soften it sufficiently. Excellent. I should note that Armonio is a VdP d'Oc, not an AOC wine.
All the Mas Neuf wines show similar sweet, ripe black fruit character and some spiciness. Aside from the Armonio, most of the other wines are pretty approachable.