The Mas Jullien blanc from Mas Jullien embodies the meticulous and visionary work of Olivier Jullien, one of the Languedoc's most respected and renowned winemakers. Based in Jonquières, at the foot of the Terrasses du Larzac, he has developed his own style, free from passing trends and competition, through years of careful observation of his soils, grape varieties, and how they respond to the climate. The wine estate is situated in the foothills of the Larzac, at elevations of up to 450 meters. The soils are primarily clay-based and dotted with limestone gravel, though some plots also rest on siliceous or sandstone soils, resulting in a wide variety of expressions. Each plot is analyzed in detail so that it can be vinified separately, respecting its unique characteristics. Olivier Jullien has chosen to simplify the blend of his white wine by giving pride of place to White Carignan, a grape variety he believes thrives best on the wine estate’s alluvial soils, complemented by Chenin, White Grenache, Viognier, Clairette, and Marsanne.
Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin: Mas Jullien’s white wine is a benchmark I recommend to those who think that great white wines can only be found in Burgundy or the Loire. Olivier Jullien has such a mastery of detail that this wine exhibits a generous body and a mineral tension that are almost unparalleled in the South. This cuvée exceeds any expectations one might have for a white wine from the region and never fails to surprise during blind tastings.
The nose is mineral, with wonderful hints of pine needles and subtle vanilla notes, enhanced by notes of fresh grapes, white-fleshed fruits, and citrus.
On the palate, the wine unfolds with volume and fullness, driven by an intensity of sap and a spicy finish, culminating in a briny aftertaste rarely found elsewhere in the region.