Mas Amiel : Vers le Nord 2020

Characteristics and tasting tips for Vers le Nord 2020 by Mas Amiel

Tasting

Appearance

The wine reveals a deep red hue with intense highlights.

Nose

The nose opens with remarkable freshness featuring citrus notes, particularly grapefruit zest and blood orange. The bouquet then evolves toward black fruit aromas, especially blackcurrant, accompanied by herbaceous nuances of eucalyptus, thyme and bay leaf. Peppery floral touches and tapenade notes complete this complex and elegant aromatic palette.

Palate

The attack on the palate stands out for its remarkable freshness. The palate reveals a beautiful opulence while maintaining an aromatic vivacity that brings brightness to the tasting. Red and black fruits come through with a sensation of biting into fresh fruit, accompanied by the characteristic minerality of the terroir. The tannic structure is present yet delicate, offering a fine balance. The finish lingers with elegance, leaving a mouthwatering and fresh impression.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted red meats, particularly duck breast, roast beef or rib steak. It also pairs beautifully with dishes featuring Mediterranean herbs that echo its aromatic notes.

Serving and storage

Vers le Nord 2020 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature of 17 to 18°C. This wine can be appreciated now but has aging potential through approximately 2030.

A Grenache from Roussillon with remarkable freshness from the Maury terroir

The estate

Mas Amiel is a historic estate in Roussillon acquired in 1999 by Olivier Decelle. Under the technical direction of Nicolas Raffy since 2008, the property spans 152 hectares of vines in the Agly Valley, near Maury. The estate obtained organic certification in 2017, followed by biodynamic certification in 2020. Renowned for its traditional fortified wines, Mas Amiel has also established itself as a benchmark for the dry wines of the Maury Sec appellation, created in 2011, producing exceptional single-plot cuvées that express the diversity of its terroirs.

The vineyard

Vers le Nord comes from the Devèze plot, an exceptional two-hectare terroir located in Maury. This plot benefits from a north-facing exposure that promotes freshness. The soil is composed of sandy calcoschists, bluish limestone and ferruginous clay — a rare geological combination that gives the wine its distinctive minerality. The Grenache Noir vines, complemented by a small proportion of Syrah, are cultivated according to biodynamic principles. The yield is deliberately limited to 19 hectoliters per hectare to concentrate the aromas and substance.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage benefited from favorable climatic conditions, allowing optimal ripening of the grapes. The harvest was carried out by hand at ideal maturity, thus preserving the integrity of the berries and the aromatic freshness sought for this cuvée.

Winemaking and aging

After a double manual selection of the grapes, approximately one third of the harvest is destemmed while the remainder retains its stems to add complexity. The winemaking of Vers le Nord 2020 takes place in a 50-hectoliter stainless steel tank with temperature control. Aging then occurs in concrete tanks to preserve the fruit and freshness of the wine, without any oak barrel maturation. This approach highlights the pure expression of the terroir and the grape variety.

Grape varieties

Grenache Noir (92%)
Syrah (8%)