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Mas Jullien, Coteaux du Languedoc
Olivier Jullien
Olivier Jullien calls one of his red wines “Etats d’Ame”, and this sums up his philosophy. Olivier is very much at home in his vineyard and much less so in his office. He puts all of his considerable energy into producing a range of very fine, very classic Languedoc wines, which have almost cult status in France. The wines are produced on bio-dynamic principles, with low yields.
He now has around 15 hectares of vines, but this is a movable feast; he sold some land off to reduce his holdings to 12 hectares, as he was unhappy with some of the parcelles, he has now bought 3 hectares of old Carignan which particularly struck his fancy, and tomorrow…
The range now usually comprises one red and one white cuvée of Mas Jullien, vinified as Coteaux du Languedoc, and one or more Etats d’Ame, depending on the vintage and Olivier’s whim.
Etats d’Ame is intended to be more forward, and may be either Vin de Pays or Coteaux du Languedoc depending on the blend. Olivier has Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault, on a variety of soils based on shale and limestone, around the village of Jonquières. The wines are aged in varying size barriques, from 225 litres through 300, 500 and 600 litre demi-muids, to some 10 hectolitre
foudres.
The 2000 Etats d’Ame is from 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and the balance Cinsault and Carignan. Juicy young spicy attractive fruit, peppery. The 1999, which was bottled in June 2001, has an attractive elegant nose, spicy fruit, hints of oak, and is peppery, quite austere, with good weight and length. The 2000
Mas Jullien is rich, peppery yet elegant, with ripe bramble spicy fruit, and will improve with a further year or two in bottle.
There was no white in 2002, and we have sold out of the delicious 2001. |