Mas de L'Ecriture Pensées 2006

Les Pensées has a subtle, more feminine elegance. Made predominantly from Grenache noir, with some Syrah, Cinsault and Carignan, it is peppery, concentrated and intense, with round tannins, red fruit (strawberry, raspberry) and a long finish.

Decant for several hours to appreciate it at its finest.

Our vineyards are in the southern French region of Languedoc-Roussillon, a short drive north of the capital city of Montpellier, on the outskirts of a small village - Jonquières.

We are in Coteaux du Languedoc country, and have the honour of working within the Terrasses du Larzac appellation. The domaine sits at the foot of the Larzac plateau;

The soil here is stony, sandy-clay beneath Jurassic limestone, and characterized by the exceptional quality of its drainage, which forces the vines to put down deep roots and gives us the potential to make wines with a distinct sense of place.

It is not unusual to find fossilized oysters and mussels amongst the vines

Writing in Decanter, Andrew Jefford described the Terrasses du Larzac as “the Languedoc of everyone’s retirement dreams: open, uncluttered countryside where the fennel plants sway idly by the roadside, where olive trees mark property boundaries… the terraces themselves tend to be limestone rubble weathered from the Causse above…the vineyards laid out like picnic rugs on those pale stones give way, as the hills rise, to scrubby forests patrolled by boar.“

What I particularly appreciate about our soils are their quality and diversity. Some have been transplanted as a result of movement of the earth’s crust.

I have spent more than ten years getting to know my various plots, and have noticed subtle but important differences, which I use to my advantage.

For example, I have a 1.5 hectare plot of Syrah vines growing on a unique soil studded with quartz, sandstone and silica, which allows this particular grape variety to express itself with amazing subtlety and finesse. In comparison, I have two hectares of Syrah planted on mainly clay soil, which brings concentration and freshness.

At Le Mas de l’Ecriture, we refine our winemaking by drilling down to the detail. Each plot is harvested, vinified and aged separately.

It is only at the end of this process that I blend my wines.

To be able to work with such varied terroir - and such precision - is a real joy; I consider myself lucky to have so many possibilities.

Jancis Robinson

6,000 bottles made. Grenache Noir, with some Syrah, Cinsault and Carignan.
Dark purple. A delicate perfume of violets and blackberries and endlessly soft subtle and elegant on the palate, like a long finely spun silk scarf. Blueberries and raspberries with a genteel touch of spice and cocoa. Charming and beautifully made. (TC)