Description
Situated a few miles north of Bezieres in the Herault, Chateau de Mus is a significant and rather grand edifice, built in 1848 on an ancient defensive site overlooking the river Orb. Here the Julien family are intelligently exploiting the alluvial gravel terraces and galets rouges to produce a range of well-crafted and delicious varietal reds, whites and roses under the Pays d’Oc banner. We list two whites and a red. The Viognier is picked during the cool of the night, vinified at low temperature under CO2, and kept on its fine lees with regular batonnage during one winter, all to retain freshness and gras. It is pale in colour, with intense aromas of white flowers, peach and apricot, and retains great elegance, crispness and length on the palate, always the make or break with this variety. It makes a fine, refreshing summer aperitif, and has easily enough verve and drive to carry dishes based around fruits de mer, fish and salads. The Marsanne-Vermentino undergoes an identical, cool vinification, and is delightful and fresh, with a cool, racy elegance. It is delicious with shellfish, crustacea, grilled fish, pork and poultry dishes. The Grenache is picked at optimal maturity and undergoes a long fermentation, up to 5 weeks under controlled temperature, in order to extract colour and weight. It has characteristic aromas of the garrigue, wild herbs and black fruits, and is soft, velvety and round on the palate, with subtle notes of coffee and dark chocolate to add to the palette of red and black fruits. It is excellent with grilled meats, pastas and charcuterie. A fine trio then, of beautifully crafted and sensibly priced wines.