Leon Stolarski Fine Wines Mas de Lavail - Cotes Roussillon Villages

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Online Wine Shop > Wines by grower - alphabetical > Mas de Lavail - Cotes Roussillon Villages

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Domaine Mas de Lavail

Domaine Mas de Lavail

Winemaker Nicolas Batlle in the tasting room at Mas de Lavail

Nicolas Batlle is a young winemaker with a great future ahead of him. He and his father left the co-operative in the village of Maury to create this new domaine a few kilometres outside the village. Although they created a new domaine, the vines they inherited with the property are very old and, coupled with the superb terroir of this region, make for wines of huge concentration and flavour. Yet the skills of Mr. Batlle as a winemaker ensure that they also possess wonderful character and finesse.

Domaine Mas de Lavail

This region, known as the Fenouillèdes, is just about the most “happening” wine region in the world right now and, with many local vineyards being snapped up by renowned producers from Bordeaux and other classic regions, its reputation is on the up, as are (in many cases) the prices! But Mr. Batlle, being one of the “local” winemakers, yet to confirm his reputation amongst the big boys, charges extremely fair prices for his wines. How long they will remain such remains to be seen, as he is definitely a star of the future and his wines are already very highly-rated in the Guide Hachette. Jancis Robinson and Tom Cannavan have also given some super reviews of these wines. So now is the time to snap them up! Mas de Lavail vines, with the Corbieres hills and Chateau de Quéribus in the background

Mas de Lavail vines, with the Corbieres hills and Chateau de Quéribus in the background

Average yields on the domaine are 30 hl/ha, and the levels of fruit and concentration in all of the wines is simply remarkable. The reds are made from Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. The Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tradition is aged in vat, whilst La Desirade receives 12 months in oak. So does the "Ego", which, being made from 100% Grenache, qualifies only as a Vin de Pays – but what an amazing wine! The oak-matured white, Le Sud, comprises 50% each of Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris, and is a cracking example of the type of full-bodied, yet elegant white wine that can be made in this region. Mas de Lavail really is a domaine to watch and we are extremely proud to be the first (and currently only) U.K importer of these fabulous wines.

Domaine Mas de Lavail Le Sud 2008 Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes
Domaine Mas de Lavail Le Sud 2008 table

Vintage	2008
Region	VDP des Côtes Catalanes, Maury, west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry white - full bodied. Aged in oak barrels for 12 months
Grapes	A blend of Grenache Blanc and Grenache Gris
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.5%
Food	Fish, seafood, chicken, pork, spicy oriental dishes
Next day	Even better
Drink	Over the next 5 to 8 years
Very pale gold colour with a watery rim. The nose is intensely fragrant, combining grape, apple and stone fruit aromas, with notes of honeysuckle, marmalade, orange blossom, herbs and spices and creamy, smoky oak. It's a very complex nose, for such a young wine. The palate is equally intense and extremely full-bodied, rich and expressive - and equally complex. The flavours are of spiced fruit salad laced with Calvados, with some distinctly herbal notes (fennel, oregano). There's a healthy lick of acidity, which provides a nice counter to the rich, almost tangy marmalade mid-palate and the long, warming finish. You often read that a wine "wears its alcohol well", by way of mitigating a perceived drawback. But this wine wears its 14.5% abv proudly on its sleeve. It isn't a quaffer, it is a food wine (perhaps chicken or pork, or fish with a herby sauce) and is not for the faint-hearted. It is undoubtedly big and rich and packed with flavour, but for all that power, it is curiously elegant and quirky - and very lovely. I think it will be a keeper, too - watch it develop over the next 5 or more years. It's a shame we only bought a few cases!.

Price: £14.80 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Domaine Mas de Lavail Cuvée Tradition 2008 Côtes du Roussillon Villages
Domaine Mas de Lavail Tradition 2008 table

Vintage	2008
Region	Cotes du Roussillon Villages, Maury, west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied.
Grapes	40% Carignan, 40% Syrah, 20% Grenache, all 50 years+
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.5%
Food	Grilled meats and vegetables, poultry, cheese
Next day	Better still
Drink	Excellent now, or to age for a further 5 years or more
Dark purple colour with a narrow rim. A hint of reduction on the nose quickly blows-off to reveal aromas of bramble fruits, garrigue herbs and leather, with a distinctly smoky, meaty, almost animal character. Later, notes of polished mahogany and incense develop. The palate displays succulent flavours of stewed plums, bramble and liquorice, with those herby, savoury notes also coming through. The sweet fruit combines beautifully with soft tannins, ample acidity and a long, warming finish. The classic blend of dry-farmed Carignan, Syrah and Grenache grapes harvested at full maturity makes for a full bodied, complex and concentrated wine that is extremely enjoyable to drink now, but with enough stuffing to age and evolve for a few years yet. Who needs oak-ageing (this is aged in vats) when the fruit is this good? Another superb vintage of one of our favourite Roussillon reds.

Price: £9.95 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Domaine Mas de Lavail Ballade 2007 Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes
Mas de Lavail Ballade 2007 table

Vintage	2007
Region	Fenouilledes, north-west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - medium/full bodied.
Grapes	A blend of very old Carignan and Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	14.0%
Food	Rich casseroles, spaghetti bolognese, pizza
Next day	Even better
Drink	Excellent now, but will improve for 2 or 3 years
A medium/dark ruby core, fading gently to the rim. A nose of blackcurrants, black cherries and mulberries, with hints of garrigue herbs, tar and eau de vie. Rather in the manner of a super-charged Cotes du Rhone in profile, it has bags of concentrated black, tarry fruit flavours, with a nice layer of rustic but soft tannins and just the right amount of acidity to keep it refreshing. It is a powerful wine, with a warm, spicy, gently alcoholic finish. That said, it is relatively soft, so can be served lightly chilled. Experience tells me it will also age and evolve nicely for 2 or 3 years. Not complex, but very satisfying and excellent value.

Price: £8.75 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Domaine Mas de Lavail Ego 2006 Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes
Domaine Mas de Lavail Ego 2006 table

Vintage	2006
Region	Fenouilledes, north-west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Dry red - full bodied. Aged in oak barrels for 12 months
Grapes	100% old vine Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	15.0%
Food	Fillet steak, venison, rack of lamb
Next day	Opens out even more
Drink	Excellent now, but will improve for up to 10 years
Aromas of cherry and raspberry and even a hint of seville orange, with notes of aromatic spices, herby garrigue and leather. The palate is rich and dense, without feeling heavy, and offers an abundance of spiced fruitcake flavours, with additional notes of toffee and dark chocolate. The tannins are velvety and ripe, in a wine that is drinkable now, but with the structure to age and improve for a number of years. Further tasting reveals extra layers of flavour and interest, with earthy, savoury nuances making an appearance. Harvesting old Grenache at full maturity in a hot climate makes for a naturally high level of alcohol (15% abv). But, as with this wine's white counterpart (Le Sud) it makes no attempt to hide it. But there is a healthy degree of acidity for such a rich wine, giving excellent balance and even a degree of elegance. Superb stuff - though not for the faint-hearted!

Price: £14.80 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Domaine Mas de Lavail Expression 2008 Maury
Domaine Mas de Lavail Maury Expression 2008 table

Vintage	2008
Region	Maury, west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	Red, vin doux naturel - similar to Port, only better!
Grapes	100% old vine Grenache
Alcohol (a.b.v)	16.0%
Food	Duck with cherries, rich puddings, fruit cake, cheese, raspberry sorbet - or to enjoy on its own
Next day	How about weeks? Develops for ages!
Drink	Excellent now, or age for 10 years or more
Made from 100% old vine Grenache, harvested at the peak of maturity. The grapes are given a long maceration, followed by "mutage" (the addition of a small amount of grape brandy) which halts fermentation and retains some of the grape sugars. The colour is densely purple and opaque, with a tiny, vivid pink rim. The nose is all about dark fruits of both the fresh and dried varieties. Bramble and blackcurrants, cherries and prunes steeped in eau de vie mingle with dark chocolate, forest floor and cedar wood. The palate is a riot of intensely sweet, concentrated fruit, combining tangy black cherries, stewed brambles, cassis and prunes, with a hint of Seville orange marmalade. Notes of molasses and dark chocolate add an intense richness, like liquid Christmas cake. And through it all runs an enticing, refreshing streak of acidity. I guess there are some healthy tannins in there somewhere, but the balance and the richness render them almost unnoticeable. This wine is so delicious and so more-ish that it is hard to fault. And although it is so lovely now, it will surely age and evolve beautifully for at least a decade, perhaps a lot longer. Vintage Maury is one of the world's best and most underrated sweet red wine styles - and this is a truly exceptional example .

Price: £15.25 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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Domaine Mas de Lavail Muscat de Rivesaltes 2008
Domaine Mas de Lavail Muscat de Rivesaltes 2008 table

Vintage	2008
Region	Maury, west of Perpignan
Colour/Style	White, vin doux naturel
Grapes	100% old vine Muscat a Petits Grains
Alcohol (a.b.v)	16.0%
Food	As an aperitif or with blue cheese, fois gras or fresh fruit
Next day	Keeps well for weeks
Drink	Excellent now, or age for 3 to 5 years
If you have ever been lucky enough to enjoy eating fresh muscat grapes (they are often available in French markets and supermarkets in late August) then you won't need me to tell you how delicious they are. And wines don't come much more "grapey" than a fine Muscat de Rivesaltes - and they don't come any better than this little cracker. The nose offers a riot of (you guessed it) grapey aromas, with notes of lime marmalade and clementines. The palate is both mouth-filling and super-fresh, like munching on a handful of grapes, but with an ethereal, marmalade-y richness. The inherent natural acidity and slight pithiness of the Muscat grape are complemented perfectly by just the right amount of fortifying grape spirit. To be honest, I have rarely tasted a bad Muscat de Rivesaltes (with such wonderful raw material, that would be difficult) but some cheaper examples can be a bit too hot for their own good. Not this one, though. - it manages to be both rich and mouth-watering at the same time, whilst the grape spirit adds a refreshing tanginess, rather than heat. Young Muscat de Rivesaltes is never profound, although I've heard tell that if you are brave enough to age it for 10 or 15 years, it can be. But why wait, when it tastes this good at less than 2 years old? It is utterly lovely - and very long, too. In all my years, I've yet to taste a better one. Yummy!

Price: £11.95 (Including: VAT at 20%)

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The Mas de Lavail Six - Save £5
Mas de Lavail

A new sampler case, covering our latest range of vintages from Mas de Lavail in Roussillon. The wines in this selection normally retail separately for £75.45. This 6-bottle case is offered at the special price of £70.45 (a saving of £5) and comprises the following wines;

Dry white:

1 x Le Sud 2008 - Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes

Dry red:

1 x Ballade 2007 - Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes
1 x Cuvée Tradition 2008 - Côtes du Roussillon Villages
1 x Ego 2006 - Vin de Pays d'Oc

Sweet:

1 x Maury Expression 2008 - Maury
1 x Muscat de Rivesaltes 2008

Price: £70.45 (Including: VAT at 20%)

Quantity:

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Minimum order value, delivery charges, times and restrictions

We deliver only to UK and Northern Ireland addresses. The minimum order value is £75 (plus the delivery charge). You may of course choose a mix of any wines in our range. Orders between £75 and £200: delivery charge is £7.50. Orders over £200: delivery is free! (If your order is over £200, please remember to change the delivery charge in checkout to £0.00). Please note: Delivery to non-mainland addresses (Scottish Highlands and Islands, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, etc.) is usually possible, but may not be on a next-working-day basis. It is also more expensive than delivery to mainland addresses, so will be charged at cost (for orders under £200) but with a small discount for orders over £200 - please call us for a quote.

Warning - you must be aged 18 or over

It is an offence to purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol if you are under the age of 18. (Section 149 Licensing Act 2003).We reserve the right to seek proof of age. Leon Stolarski says "drink less, but drink better!" Please consume alcohol in moderation.