Domaines Paul Mas - Rural luxury in Languedoc | Laure Gasparotto, Aurelio Rodriguez

Owner of fifteen estates on 850 hectares of vineyards from the Rhône to the Pyrénées and from the Cévennes to the Mediterranean, Jean-Claude Mas is the ambassador of Languedoc and the promoter of a certain way of life: "rural luxury". "In Languedoc, one can grow from what one does, not from what one has," claims Jean-Claude Mas. Raised near Pézenas, the man embodies an Occitania that reinvents itself day by day, proud to work his lands with the open-mindedness of the New World. Since 2000 and the creation of the Domaines Paul Mas, he has established himself as the promoter of a land luxury that is the opposite of superfluous luxury. As one travels through his properties spread across the Limoux, Terrasses du Larzac, Pézenas, Pays d'Oc, Grés de Montpellier, Corbières, Minervois, Roussillon, Costières de Nîmes appellations, all senses are awakened, the mind connected to the elements he cultivates the vine and crafts his wines, inspired by nature and his instinct. "With us, innovation and tradition come together to nourish a philosophy that we define as rural luxury: we want to create great wines that are affordable and thus stimulate true emotions, solely based on the senses. Isn't that today's luxury?" Through this book, Jean-Claude Mas shares the passions that drive him daily: the landscapes with strong character, from Carcassonne to Sète and from Perpignan to Nîmes - obvious, subtle, or complex wines, stemming from forty-five different grape varieties - the pleasures of taste at the Côté Mas restaurant, established with a guest house at the Montagnac cellar, his domain - the love of horses settled nearby in a corral, for riding and plowing - the need for simple products from the vegetable garden, orchard, beehives, sea, causses, and meadows, which he cooks himself - the science of repairing and revving up beautiful mechanics - the sense of noble materials, art, and craftsmanship. In short, a whole world, and a wine concept that has proven itself as Domaines Paul Mas was named the 2020 producer of the year by Bettane et Desseauve, European producer of 2020 by Wine Enthusiast magazine - best French producer of 2021, and for the third consecutive year, by Mundus Vini.