When given the choice to drink top Languedoc, young or old, the name Mas de Daumas Gassac comes to mind in a flash. The Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine is perhaps the only one outside of Bordeaux rivaling its top chateaux. The cool microclimate of this particular Herault vineyard has etched these wines into the history books for age-worthy Cabernet. I'm very happy to offer a wide range spanning 1988 - 2006, with the lowest price in the country for many.

No estate exemplifies the pride and tradition of the Languedoc as much as Mas de Daumas Gassac. The domaine was established in 1970 when Véronique and Aimé Guibert came across an abandoned farmhouse owned by the Daumas family along the Gassac river in the Herault. The underground cold water springs and surrounding mountains created a relatively humid microclimate that mirrored Bordeaux's Médoc. This combination led to the planting of Cabernet Sauvignon on limestone-dominant soils. Vine material from First Growth Bordeaux chateaux were originally planted here with an eye toward creating the greatest Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wine of southern France.

France's southwest Languedoc has always been known for its warm Mediterranean climate, diversity of soil, and unmatched value. Vines were originally planted here in 125 B.C. by the Romans, and the ease at which the vines took to the land immediately made them a success throughout the empire. Today, the region has an abundance of 100-year-old+ plantings, with the dry and favorable climate allowing organic viticulture to strive.

The typical blend here is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, supplemented with portions of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Tannat, and Malbec. Alcohol levels have remained modest through the ebb and flow of stylistic shifts, never taking cues from Bordeaux as things drastically changed in the 80's.

The Gassac river and underground cold springs are as much as a part of terroir here as the limestone bedrock. The cooling influences are both are the critical elements for why Mas de Daumas Gassac has long stood out as a beacon of sorts for Languedoc freshness. The wines are highlighted by notes of espresso, dark chocolate, cigar box, brambly blackberries, with savory spices.

The underlying verve and tension of the wines have allowed them to improve and transform dramatically with age. As always, the provenance of older wines is the critical factor in the quality you will find in glass, and I'm thrilled to offer this mint condition collection of Languedoc's star estate.

1x 1988 Mas De Daumas Gassac Rouge Vin De Pays De L'Herault
$399 per bottle.

4x 1989 Mas De Daumas Gassac Rouge Vin De Pays De L'Herault
$399 per bottle.

1x 1990 Mas De Daumas Gassac Rouge Vin De Pays De L'Herault 
$399 per bottle.

11x 2000 Mas De Daumas Gassac Rouge Vin De Pays De L'Herault 
$99 per bottle.

12x 2002 Mas De Daumas Gassac Rouge Vin De Pays De L'Herault 
$99 per bottle.

12x 2003 Mas De Daumas Gassac Rouge Vin De Pays De L'Herault 
$99 per bottle.

12x 2004 Mas De Daumas Gassac Rouge Vin De Pays De L'Herault 
$99 per bottle.

15x 2005 Mas De Daumas Gassac Rouge Vin De Pays De L'Herault
$103 per bottle.

8x 2006 Mas De Daumas Gassac Rouge Vin De Pays De L'Herault 
$95 per bottle.