Located in La Crau, a few kilometers from Pierrefeu, Domaine de La Maïonnette spreads on a 30 hectare-vineyard where the wines are grown with passion to express the best of its terroir. La Maïonnette has been an independent winegrower since 1913.
The vines are equally divided between two appellations: AOP Côtes de Provence and IGP Méditerranée.
In addition to the traditional rosé wines of Provence, Domaine de La Maïonnette offers high quality white and red wines.
The estate benefits from a Mediterranean climate, where winters are rigorous and allow the vine to regenerate more easily, and summers are hot, providing a beautiful maturity to the grapes. The sea breeze avoids radical changes in temperature.
The wines of Domaine de la Maïonnette reflect the elegance of the Provençal terroir, characterized by the hot and dry climate. The clay-limestone based soils represent an ideal place to grow the grapes thanks to their ability to retain the water better, while bringing body and power to the wine, and leaving them supple and round.
The night harvest - that favors the freshness of the aromas - and the vinification are also thought to enhance the quality of the grapes ripening under the Mediterranean climate.
The Malard family has been rooted in wine for 3 generations. In the 90s, Jean-Louis Malard developed his own Champagne wines. He quickly became one of the major players in the Champagne landscape. Passionate about wine and driven by entrepreneurship, he's always in the search for new challenges around his passion. Attached to the Provence region and the quality of the wines produced there, purchasing Domaine de La Maïonnette was the perfect match and the result of a long research and meticulous work.
Domaine La Maionnette Rose Cotes de Provence is made from 60% Syrah, 20% Cinsault and 20% Grenache.
The plots of Domaine de la Maïonnette benefit from a clay-limestone soil and are located on a plateau surrounded by hundred-year-old oaks. Bordered by the Provencal scrubland, the vineyard enjoys a dry climate typical of the region.
An emblematic cuvée of the estate, this Cotes de Provence rosé reveals concentrated aromas of citrus fruits and white flowers, and a beautiful structure. The fresh palate brings out sweet candy notes, gooseberry and litchi, and delivers bright acidity and ample length on the finish.
Long Shadows Sequel Syrah is made from 95% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
An intensely colored wine with spicy aromas of cassis, smoked meats and a hint of olive tapenade woven throughout layers of black currant, blueberry and a trace of licorice. Wonderfully balanced, with a broad mouth-feel and soft tannins that hold together seamlessly.
Winemaking: Syrah’s delicate skin requires gentle handling during fermentation to extract richness without imparting bitter tannins, so winemaker John Duval uses a variety of techniques to produce a wide spectrum of flavors. A portion of the grapes were fermented using an Australian method known as “rack and return” that requires draining the tank twice daily and gently putting the juice back over the top of the skins. Whole-cluster fermentation was also used to enhance richness and dimension on the palate. Lastly, some of the lots underwent submerged cap fermentation to add structure and enhance the mouthfeel of the finished wine. Aged 18 months in 100% French oak barrels, 65% new.
Review:
Loads of black fruits, smoked game, liquid violets, and cracked pepper notes emerge from the 2018 Syrah Sequel, which has gorgeous Syrah wildness and gaminess, full-bodied richness, a pure, elegant, seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Count me impressed. You could safely put this up with the best Syrah coming out of Washington and California.
-Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points
The wine offers a touch of pear, spice and dried fruit aromas on the nose, and exotic fruit characters. Minerality emerges from the primary rock soils, followed by an elegant and lively finish.
Chicken and pork dishes, good food companion to many dishes.