Mas Jullien 2011

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Mas Jullien 2011

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a deep hue, marked by dark, violet-tinged nuances.

Nose
Remarkably complex, the aromatic bouquet opens with generous aromas of black fruit such as blackberry, blackcurrant and blueberry, enhanced by floral touches of violet. With aeration, it unfolds a rich spiced palette of pepper, liquorice and thyme, underpinned by notes of garrigue, smoke and a sharp minerality.

Palate
Full-bodied and beautifully concentrated, the palate offers a tight, compact texture. The tannins, firm yet finely polished, structure the palate with elegance. The balance is remarkable, carried by a fine acidic tension that draws the wine towards a persistent finish, dominated by black fruit, spice and a mineral imprint.

Food and wine pairing
This red wine of character pairs ideally with flavourful meats such as leg of lamb with garrigue herbs, beef daube or duck with olives. It will also enhance game birds and furred game, as well as mature hard cheeses such as Salers or Laguiole.

Serving and cellaring
To appreciate the full complexity of Mas Jullien 2011, we recommend serving it at a temperature of 16 to 17°C, after decanting for one to two hours. Built for a very long evolution, this wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to improve in the cellar until around 2030.

The Depth and Minerality of a Great Red Wine from the Terrasses du Larzac

The estate
Founded in 1985 in Jonquières by Olivier Jullien, its current owner, Mas Jullien quickly established itself as a pioneer of the quality revival in the Languedoc. By championing native grape varieties and identifying its terroirs with great precision, this emblematic estate helped raise viticultural standards across the region. Shunning dogma, the estate practises organic farming without claiming certification, reflecting a deep commitment to biodiversity and soil health. Today, Mas Jullien remains an essential reference, renowned for its precise, profound terroir-driven wines with exceptional ageing potential.

The vineyard
Located north-west of Montpellier, on the foothills of the Larzac plateau, the vineyard covers around twenty hectares. The vines grow on a mosaic of highly varied soils, made up of clay-limestone earth, silica and sandstone. This singular terroir, historically part of the Coteaux du Languedoc appellation before the recognition of the Terrasses du Larzac, enjoys a contrasted climate. The marked diurnal temperature variations and the cool nights brought by the altitude allow the grapes to retain fine acidity while reaching optimal phenolic ripeness. The vineyard is managed with rigour and respect for all living things.

The vintage
The 2011 vintage benefited from a particularly balanced climate in this area. The alternation of beneficial summer warmth and moderate rainfall provided ideal conditions for the vine's growth cycle. This meteorological harmony allowed the berries to reach perfect ripeness, favouring a vibrant expression of fruit and the preservation of lovely freshness.

Vinification and ageing
The philosophy in the cellar rests on measured interventions to preserve the identity of the terroir. For the Mas Jullien 2011 cuvée, whole bunches are used in varying proportions during fermentation. Each grape variety is vinified separately in order to extract its quintessence. Ageing then takes place mainly in large wooden vessels, such as foudres or large demi-muids. This choice allows slow, delicate oxygenation, structuring the wine without the woody aromas masking the purity of the fruit.

Grape varieties
This wine is a blend of Carignan, Mourvèdre and Syrah.