Rarissime 2011 - Mas Gabinèle

Rarissime 2011 - Mas Gabinèle

 Appellation Faugères 

94/100 Parker

Cellaring: 2014 - 2024

Tasted by Jeb Dunnuck in 2014: "A decidedly modern-style effort, but made to perfection, the 2011 Faugeres Rarissime is an exhilarating blend of 60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, and 20% Mourvedre, all from the schist soils that cover the entire appellation, that spent 16 months in 100% new French oak. It has superb aromas of creme de cassis, licorice, toast, and chocolate, as well as great underlying minerality, leading to a seamless Faugeres with fine tannins and impressive length. I am impressed. The overall purity, balance and length are superb. It should age effortlessly for over a decade."

- Geographical origin : In the heart of the Faugères appellation, the vineyard extends over a little over 18 hectares, on the last foothills of the Cévennes overlooking the village of Laurens. The vines, ideally located at an altitude of 180 meters, are 30 to 60 years old and naturally give small yields.

- Grape varieties : Syrah 70%, Grenache 25%, Mourvèdre 5%.

- Soil : The soils are dominated by the sandstone schists of Laurens-Cabrières, neighboring those of the Monts du Faugérois. These are soils with a fragile structure, with an acidic tendency, sometimes difficult but which, associated with adapted management systems, allow a good balance of the vines.  

- Pruning and yield : Double Cordon de Royat pruning on Syrah and Mourvèdre, traditional goblet pruning on Grenache. The yield is 25 to 30 hl/ha depending on the plots.

- Vinification : Manual harvest with sorting of very ripe grapes at the plot (between September 21st and October 10th). Long macerations at high temperature (25-30° C), even and especially after the completion of the sugars. Extraction by succession and alternation of the usual techniques: pumping over and delestage. Early settling in new barrels, maturing for 16 months. We have produced 13,000 bottles of this cuvée.

- Tasting : Black is black, but there is still hope! That of discovering a wine that is exceptional in its concentration and elegance. Concentration is demonstrated by the density of the color, by the contained power of the aromas and by the richness in the mouth. The initial aromatic restraint requires decanting to reveal notes of zan, blackberry and blackcurrant jam, Madagascar pepper, mocha, pencil lead and cinnamon. The tannins are very ample, very dense, intimately linked, installing an incredible balance with a respectable degree of alcohol and an unexpected and welcome freshness.

- Temperature and serving advice, gastronomic alliance : Obviously, the tasting of such a wine must be shared (Brassens would say no more than four because beyond that we're a bunch of jerks). The sharing could be done with a slice of buttered bread for a good meal. to put in mouth then a poularde de Bresse with truffle, or an old Salers.

 

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