- Winery: Domaines Paul Mas
- Wine Region: Languedoc, France
- Variety: Syrah
- Vintage: 2024
- Price: $18
- Find it: Dan Murphy’s
- Alcohol content: 13.5%
- You’ll like this if: You’re after a winter warmer
- Body: Full
- Mouthfeel: Expressive
- Taste: Bold, rich, soft
- Flavours: Plum, Raspberry, Spice
- Enjoy it with: Winter comfort food
- Food pairings: Roast lamb, pasta with ragu
Wine review: Côté Mas Syrah 2024
If you think the Languedoc is all about rosé, the Côté Mas Syrah 2024 is about to change your mind. Made by the acclaimed Jean-Claude Mas, this is a wine that celebrates everything the diverse terroirs of southern France can do with a bold red varietal, and it does it with real style. Rich, soft, and wonderfully approachable, this is the kind of bottle that works just as well on a Tuesday night as it does with a meal with friends. No fuss, no pretension, just great wine at a pretty good price point.
The colour sets the scene: a deep, inviting crimson-purple that promises plenty. On the nose, pure fruit takes centre stage, with ripe plum and raspberry layered with liquorice and a whisper of soft spice that adds just enough intrigue. On the palate, it’s full-bodied but never heavy, with a supple, generous texture that makes it dangerously easy to pour a second glass. As for food, this wine is wonderfully versatile: roasted lamb is a natural match, but it’s equally at home alongside a hearty pasta or anything in the “winter warmer” category. The kind of red you reach for when the nights get cooler, and you want something comforting in the glass.
About Domaines Paul Mas
Behind the Côté Mas Syrah is a name that has become synonymous with the Languedoc: Domaines Paul Mas. Founded just over two decades ago by Jean-Claude Mas, the estate started with a modest family plot of 86 acres and a clear sense of purpose: to revive the reputation of Languedoc wines and coax the best out of each unique terroir. That mission has paid off spectacularly. Today, Domaines Paul Mas spans 2,400 acres across 17 châteaux and domaines, producing 25 million bottles a year for more than 80 countries. Not bad for a region that the wine world once overlooked.
At the heart of it all is Château Paul Mas, nestled in the countryside near Pézenas, where the Hérault River winds through the landscape and the vineyards stretch across three distinct estates. Mas describes his philosophy as “Rural Luxury,” a very Languedoc take on the French art of living that weaves together wine, local cuisine, and artisan craft into something that feels both grounded and quietly elegant. It is that same spirit you find in the glass: wines made with deep respect for the land, a sharp eye for blending and ageing, and a genuine passion for showing the world what this sun-drenched corner of southern France is capable of.
Note: This wine was sent as a sample. I was under no obligation to post about it.