Château Mas Neuf in The Rhône Report

09.26.11

Jeb Dunnick has just published an extensive report on the 2009 & 2010 Southern Rhone in The Rhône Report, featuring outstanding reviews for Château Mas Neuf in the Costières de Nîmes.

"Run by the passionate Luc Baudet, this large estate is located in the southern portion of AOC and produces a wide range of wines, all of which are worth checking out. Website: www.chateau-mas-neuf.com

2010 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Rhone Paradox (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes) A blend of 2/3 Grenache Blanc and 1/3 barrel fermented Roussanne, the 2010 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Rhone Paradox is a fresh, fragrant white with loads of citrus, white peach, well water, and wet stone aromatics on the nose. Bright, zesty, and refreshing on the palate, with vibrant acidity, medium body, and a smooth, easy drinking feel, this solid white will be extremely versatile with food, and should drink well for 2-3 years. (89 pts.)

2010 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Compostelle (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes) More serious and slightly more rich, the 2010 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Compostelle, 90% Roussanne (barrel fermented) and 10% Viognier, delivers a complex, fresh bouquet with juicy pear, peach, flowers, and river rock-like qualities. While the Viognier shows up prominently at first, with a big blast of fruit and floral notes, more minerality and subtlety develops with air. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, seamless, and elegant, showing juicy acidity, a full, supple, round texture, and excellent length on the finish. I?m a fan and while I would drink bottles over the coming 2-3 years, this could have an interesting aging profile. (90 pts.)

2010 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Rhone Paradox Rosé (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes) The 2010 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Rhone Paradox Rosé is a blend of 55% Cinsault, 25% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, and 10% Grenache, that?s made all from direct pressing (i.e. no saignée.) Very fresh and juicy, with cherry, mineral, rose, and spice aromas and flavors, medium body, and vibrant acidity that carries the palate, this is a solid, food-friendly rosé for drinking over the coming 6 to 12 months.(88 pts.)

2010 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Compostelle Rosé (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes) With more Mourvèdre and some white grape varieties in the blend, the 2010 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Compostelle Rosé shows a more mineral, firm profile with red currants, spice, and subtle wet stone aromatics on the nose. This leads to a medium-bodied, classically rosé that has solid acidity, plenty of fruit, and a dry, refreshing finish. While the Rhone Paradox Rosé is certainly delicious, I really like the focus and edge to this wine. It should drink well for 2-3 years. (90 pts.)

2010 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Rhone Paradox (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes) I tasted through a handful of samples destined for the 2010 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Rhone Paradox (all destemmed and aged in vat) and all showed superb purity of fruit, solid complexity and overall fresh, concentrated profiles. At the end of the day, this should be equivalent, or better than the ?09, and have a 5-8 year drink window. (88-90 pts.)

2010 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Compostelle (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes) $20 The 2010 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Compostelle, tasted from two separate samples, looks to be outstanding. Each sample showed the vintages hallmark purity or fruit with northern Rhone-like characteristics of green peppercorn, olive, herb, and meaty notes, medium body, solid concentration, and good length. While this should be accessible early on, it will also have some cellar potential. (89-91 pts.)

2007 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Compostelle (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes) A blend of close to 70% Syrah, with the balance Mourvèdre and a splash of Grenache, the 2009 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes Compostelle is an outstanding red that delivers upfront aromatics of ripe dark fruits, lavender, basil, green olive, licorice, and meaty notes on the nose. Quite complex, and the wine shows an herb and green olive underpinning that keeps you coming back for another sniff. This leads to a fresh, elegant wine that possesses a silky texture, ripe, fine tannin, and solid length on the finish. Aging beautifully, this easily has another 5+ years of evolution. (90 pts.)

2008 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes La Mourvache (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes) A blend of equal parts Mourvèdre and Grenache, all aged in tank, the 2008 Château Mas Neuf Costières-de-Nîmes La Mourvache displays exotic, complex profile with loads of earthy black fruits, cherry, Christmas spice, herbed meat, and coffee grind aromas, medium body, moderate concentration, and a clean, long finish that highlights fine, savory tannin. Certainly food-friendly, this will be versatile on the dinner table, and drink well for 5-7 years. (89 pts.)

2007 Château Mas Neuf Vin de Pays d'Oc Armonio (France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc) The most substantial and concentrated in the lineup, the 2007 Château Mas Neuf Vin de Pays d'Oc Armonio, a blend of 40% Grenache, 30% Merlot, and 30% Cabernet that?s aged in 100% new French oak, shows a deep, decadent bouquet of pure blackberry fruit, graphite, chocolate, and coffee on the nose. The oak elevage is front and center, but this has the fruit to handle it. Rich and concentrated on the palate, with a thick, full mid-palate, loads of richness, brilliant focus, and a very long, moderately tannic finish, this needs 3-4 years in the cellar to fully integrate, and should drink well for 10-12 years. Brilliant stuff. (93+ pts.)

2006 Château Mas Neuf Vin de Pays d'Oc Armonio (France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc) Just as impressive as the ?07, the 2006 Château Mas Neuf Vin de Pays d'Oc Armonio (40% Grenache, 30% Merlot, & 30% Cabernet that?s aged in 100% French oak) delivers a boisterous, upfront bouquet of crème de cassis, toasty oak, subtle chocolate, and loads of spice. This is followed by a medium to full-bodied, internationally styled, beautiful wine that possesses a concentrated, rich mouth feel, excellent balance, and a classy, very long finish. Still in need of 3-4 years to fully integrate, this should drink well for a decade or longer. Impressive and I?m a fan, however, there?s no denying the modern elevage and profile so if you?re oak adverse, look elsewhere. (93 pts.)

2007 Château Mas Neuf Vin de Pays d'Oc Avec des Si (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes) $30 The 2007 Château Mas Neuf Vin de Pays d'Oc Avec des Si is 100% old vine Syrah, from tiny yields, that shows ripe, bright aromatics of fresh blackberry, olive, basil, and assorted violet, and wild flower-like notes on the nose. This is followed by a medium-bodied, fresh, elegant styled red that has moderate concentration, excellent balance, fine tannin, and juicy acidity that shines on the finish. It should drink nicely for 4-6 or more years. (90 pts.)