Query: Mas de Daumas Gassac

A number of years ago I discovered and greatly enjoyed a well-made and powerful vin rouge from the Languedoc produced in the Hérault region. I haven't seen it anywhere (not in the USA or abroad) for quite awhile. As I recall, the last vintage that I found (at a restaurant in upstate New York) was 2004. Does anyone have any information on this wine and its producer? I seem to remember that it was mentioned in the film Mondovino regarding an attempted Mondavi-family takeover of vineyards (with terrain changes) in the nearby area. Thanks!

Here is a very good conversation on your wine over on the UK board.....>

http://www.wine-pages.com/cgi-bin2/ulti ... 802#000000

I can't speak for the availability of Daumas Gassac in the USA but the estate is still going quite strong under the management of Aimé Guibert's sons. The 2012 edition of RVF's Les Meilleurs Vins de France demotes the estate from ** to * (max ***) saying "the wines are not unworthy but have been overtaken in depth and personality by others in the region; we think that Daumas Gassac has been living on its reputation......The 2009 red (€35) shows finesse and a quite nervy profile but also rather dry tannins and a certain stiffness on the finish; 15.5/20." The 2010 Bettane/Desseauve Grand Guide shows similar qualified enthusiasm.

I can't speak for the availability of Daumas Gassac in the USA but the estate is still going quite strong under the management of Aimé Guibert's sons. The 2012 edition of RVF's Les Meilleurs Vins de France demotes the estate from ** to * (max ***) saying "the wines are not unworthy but have been overtaken in depth and personality by others in the region; we think that Daumas Gassac has been living on its reputation......The 2009 red (€35) shows finesse and a quite nervy profile but also rather dry tannins and a certain stiffness on the finish; 15.5/20." The 2010 Bettane/Desseauve Grand Guide shows similar qualified enthusiasm.

A friend of mine in the South of France has for years said that Daumas Gassac makes a better white wine than red. No question IMO that Grange des Peres has overtaken Daumas Gassac in terms of consumer perception, at least.

Mark Lipton

[Jenise]

It's widely available in the U.S., at least from purveyors with an appreciation for French wines. I don't know how far you are from Saratoga, but the Saratoga Wine Exchange carries it.

I happened to try the 06 in among a Southern France tasting a month or so ago, and wasn't hugely impressed. Notes written up here:
http://www.vinoculation.com/archives/352

The winery website is easy to google too:
http://www.daumas-gassac.com/

Andrew

Very interesting link from Ryan of "Love that Languedoc" fame.

http://love-that-languedoc.com/visiting ... languedoc/

I happened to try the 06 in among a Southern France tasting a month or so ago, and wasn't hugely impressed. Notes written up here:
http://www.vinoculation.com/archives/352

The winery website is easy to google too:
http://www.daumas-gassac.com/

Andrew

IMO a Daumas Gassac in its 5th year is too young to be showing its stuff. Your TN reads like a wine which is still closed. It probably needs 2-5 years more.

You're probably right Tim. That whole tasting arose from the idea that we should take a look at southern France outside the Rhone. When we each went looking for ideas - we were surprised how little was available locally!
So we bought what we could get, from parts of France none of us know well, and we just have to call the whole day a...er... learning experience .

It is also available in Canada, particularly in Ontario. I have several bottles from a few vintages sleeping soundly in the cellar.