Tolchards Wine Brochure 2023 - Magazine - Page 59
Responses by
Owner and Winemaker Château Paul Mas
Jean Claude Mas is a 4th Generation wine maker, who took over
the family Business in 2000. Chateau Paul Mas in Conas hamlet,
is where the story begins when Paul Mas, Jean Claude’s father,
developed the vineyard with his brother Maxime Mas in 1954.
Today, Chateau Paul Mas is one of 12 domains covering 650
hectares, of which over 100 are certified organic and Jean Claude
hopes the remaining 550 hectares will be organically certified by
2025. All the existing vineyards are French certified Terra Vitis
and also Vegan. The Domaines Paul Mas stretch from Chateau
Martinolles in the west Languedoc to Chateau Terres Denim in
the east, they also include domains such as Chateau Jeremie,
Chateau Lauriga and Domaine de la Ferrandiere.
Following the frosts which
strongly affected the 2021 harvest,
this year (2022) we’re happy to
report a strong production with
healthy grapes. The 2022 harvest
was very early with some estates
harvesting on August 07th.
Summer 2022 was hot with
a lack of rainfall – the ripening
slowed due to a lack of water
in certain area.
DO YOU DO ANYTHING
DIFFERENT TO OTHER
WINE MAKERS?.
I work with 45 varieties in a
region where I can do anything –
or almost anything. Each varieties
gives very different expressions
depending on where they are
planted – I look for the right
match between grape and terroir
and blend different grapes/terroir
to achieve on constant quality
year on year. To give you an
example, Syrah takes on peppery
notes on the warmer climes of
Malepere while on the Terrasses
du Larzac it shows more black
fruits, black olive and truffle.
Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc
produce fantastic wines in the
“souberuges” of the Hérault Valley,
whose fertile soils were often
disparaged – I seek to elevate to
their true glory. I know the style
of wine that I want to create;
wines with concentration, fruit,
complexity and opulence..wines
which are accessible and give
pleasure in their youth, and
which become exceptional
with cellaring.
HOW HAS YOUR JOB
CHANGED OVER THE
LAST 10 YEARS?
I started in 1999 with 35 hectares
from my Dad (Paul Mas) and have
since then expended throughout
the Languedoc region.Today, I own
17 wine estates which has allowed
me to better understand and analyse
the region and it’s terroirs.
“If it is a good wine,
you should be thinking of
getting a second glass.”
Jean-Claude Mas
Owner and Winemaker
Château Paul Mas
59
HOW WAS THE
HARVEST IN 2022?
JEAN-CLAUDE MAS- CHÂTEAU PAUL MAS
CHÂTEAU Jean-Claude Mas
PAUL MAS
