Mas Amiel Maury
Incredibly, Raymond Amiel won the deeds to this property in 1816 from the Bishop of Perpignan in a game of cards. The estate is now owned and run by Olivier Decelle and has helped to raise the profile of this domaine, now the leading producer of Vins Doux Naturels in the area. The older wines are aged outside in glass demijohns for one year before being moved into large, old oak casks to finish their maturation. Exposure to the sun and deliberate oxidation gives them a wonderful nutty, spicy, “rancio” flavour. Served chilled, they go perfectly with strong cheeses. The Mas Amiel Vintage, made from 100% Grenache, is rich and sweet with silky black fruit flavours. It goes well with panna cotta and is the perfect wine to go with fine dark chocolate. Its versatility and style make this wine immensely popular in many restaurants and gastro pubs.
The Plaisir Blanc 2011 is a rich and delicious wine (Grenache Blanc, Macabao, Marsanne and Roussanne) that displays concentration and depth. It is full and zesty, with a hint of spice adding complexity which lingers beautifully on the finish. A seriously smart wine. The 2009 received a fantastic 93 points from Decanter Magazine and the 2011 is equally as delicious. Plaisir Rouge 2011 is a blend of Grenache with a splash of Carignan and Syrah. Velvety red fruits with a clean and pure perfume lead onto a concentrated and classy palate with delicious mineral complexity and a lingering elegant finish. Finally the Muscat de Rivesaltes 2009 exhibits an amazingly fresh nose of preserved lemon and fresh peach with a classic palate boasting clean, pure fruit with a hint of savoury complexity and a perfumed floral note.
“May I add here how very impressive the wines of Mas Amiel are in my experience” Jancis Robinson MW, www.jancisrobinson.com