Moulin de Gassac - IGP Hérault Combe Calcaire blanc 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Much has been written about the Mas de Daumas-Gassac. Aimé Guibert - who passed away in 2016 - was able to identify qualitative terroirs in Aniane that were suitable for a Cabernet Sauvignon that was not authorized by local appellations. For white wines, he also chose to vinify a blend of chardonnay, viognier and petit manseng, which also prevented him from accessing the appellation. His estate thus produces a red (a blend of 80% uncloned Cabernet Sauvignon and some twenty other grape varieties, most of them rare) and a white (also multi-varietal) IGP de l'Hérault, which he has managed to impose at a price level unheard of in this category. The white is aged in stainless steel tanks, while the red is partially aged in barrels. The wines, both white and red, are of unrivalled purity, precision and complexity, and age remarkably well. The range is completed by pleasant igps, designed to be drunk quickly. A sure bet for the region.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

Six months in cask for this Chardonnay-dominated blend, but it's the fruit (peach and nectarine) that asserts itself on the nose, without excess and with finesse. Tender and fresh, bursting with fruit and citrus, the palate finishes pleasantly acidic. An invigorating white for fine weather and grilled fish.

About the domain :

A fine example of the breakthrough of Languedoc wines across the five continents, this domaine, founded in 1971 by Aimé and Véronique Guibert, caused quite a stir a few years ago by offering vins de pays at the same price as great Bordeaux wines. However, it has remained at the top of its game with wines of consistent quality and remarkable ageing potential. A benchmark now run by the founders' sons.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

Aimé Guibert was a key figure in the revival of Languedoc winegrowing and its French and then international recognition, after acquiring his old farmhouse cradled by the sound of the Gassac river. He was instrumental in bringing out the full potential of the limestone terroir of the Upper Gassac Valley, composed of glacial sandstone in the foothills of the Cévennes. The diurnal amplitude and the nature of the soils convinced him that this was a great terroir for Cabernet Sauvignon, which would be produced by massal selection from the best Bordeaux châteaux. Aimé's sons Samuel, Gaël, Roman and Basile now preside over the estate's destiny. Daumas Gassac has distinguished itself by its potential and longevity. Like the world's great Cabernet Sauvignons, it is best enjoyed after at least a decade. If the work is immense and undeniable, and the quality of the reds is always there (even if the wines don't necessarily carry the identity of the place), we expect much more from the whole range.

Gilbert & Gaillard

James Suckling