Mas de Capdaniel - le Mazet Rouge 2023

Mas de Capdaniel has been run by the Joullié family for four generations. The estate takes its name from the sheep that once grazed the property: Cap d’Aniel translates to “lamb’s head.” Since the 1950s, Eugène and then his son Marcel vinified each harvest in concrete vats and wooden casks, selling the resulting wines in bulk. In 2014, Marcel’s son Vincent and his daughter Sophie took the family’s winemaking in a new direction, launching the first wines under the Mas de Capdaniel label. Today, Sophie runs the estate alongside her husband, Fredy Fermaud, crafting structured, elegant wines that express their terroir and varietal character. Situated beneath the mountainous plateau of Larzac, the vineyard’s approximately 12 hectares are planted on clay-limestone soils interspersed with sandstone, calcareous marl and pebbles. The family has practiced organic viticulture since 2019, with certification beginning with the 2024 vintage. Vines averaging 50 years of age benefit from the plateau’s cooling influence and significant day-to-night temperature swings, helping preserve the freshness and finesse that define the estate’s wines.

The Mas de Capdaniel Le Mazet rouge — a blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Carignan — shines a luminous ruby red in the glass highlighted with garnet reflections. The nose is full of black fruits kissed with a whisper of anise. Flavors of black cherry preserves and pomegranate wash across the palate laced with a balanced acidity that carries this red through to a wonderfully satisfying finish. This is a delicious wine for any point of the meal... whether on its own, with appetizers or any entrée off the grill.