Domaine Rimbert, Mas Au Schist 2021

Syrah, Grenache

Languedoc, France

Selection of different schist plots of the estate, mostly 60+ years old vines, certified organic (Ecocert). Grapes are hand-harvested and partly de-stemmed, then spontaneously fermented for two weeks with 1 x daily punchdown. After fermentation, the wine spends about a year on lees in old oak barrels (3-13 years old). The wine undergoes slight filtration and fining and is then bottled using gravity and limited sulfur. 

This wine is an ode to the vineyard's schist soils, as the name also suggests (all while playing a double entendre with the French pronunciation of the term “masochist”). One of the domaine’s flagship cuvées, made from low-yielding vines (15 – 25 hectoliters per hectare) from selected old plots around the village, all grown organically by Jean-Marie himself.

The nose is fragrant with cherry cordial, blueberry jam, and crushed stones that are backed by a slight suggestion of black olives. The palate is elegant and generous with loads of red and black fruit flavors steeped in dynamic mineral-infused cocoa tones. Pair with Herbed roast chicken, grilled steak, or grilled lamb chops.

Jean-Marie Rimbert, a native of Provence, arrived in the Languedoc nearly 25 years ago & managed the vineyards at Château de Flaugergues for 5 years. In 1996, he saved up enough to purchase his first parcels of gnarled ancient Carignan vines. Jean-Marie established himself as the first grower in Berlou to bottle under his own name. His irreverent and playful VDF bottlings, as well as keen sense of humor and imagination have inspired many. Berlou is recognized as one of the top crus of Saint-Chinian, due to its high elevation, brown schist soils, and terraced vineyards. 

Today, Domaine Rimbert is 24 hectares, spread amongst 40 diverse parcels. From the beginning, his objective was to cultivate vineyards with the utmost respect for the environment & his wines reflect all of the natural beauty, depth & flavor from those vines.