Château Maris simply rocks. I frankly adore every wine they make. And I love what they stand for too.
Château Maris is located in La Livinière, the first village of Minervois with its own appellation. La Livinière is different from the rest of Minervois as its soils are mostly garrigue, the quintessential Provençal landscape of dry, limestone-based scrubland, populated by hardy herbs like lavender and rosemary. My kind of landscape!
Château Maris is all about biodiversity and sustainability, with a line-up of organic and biodynamic certifications. Interestingly, this producer has taken green construction to a new level, building an entire winery out of lightweight, organic hemp-straw bricks that naturally capture and isolate carbon dioxide produced as part of the fermentation process. Wine Spectator even sites Château Maris as “one of the five most environmentally friendly wineries in the world.” Interesting, right?
Three wines were in this tasting line-up!
The 2017 Pays d’Oc Rosé was made of Grenache Noir and Cinsault. Primary aromas and flavors included watermelon, ripe raspberry, lemon, and stone. This wine was dry, with medium (+) acidity, medium alcohol, medium aroma and flavor intensity, and medium body. The finish was also medium. This wine was light, bright, and refreshing—perfect for any deck-sipping occasion.
The NV Pays d’Oc Blanc was made of Viognier, Grenache Blanc, and Grenache Gris. Primary aromas and flavors included honeysuckle blossoms, pineapple, white peach, lemon rind, and stone. This wine was dry, with medium (+) acidity, medium alcohol, medium (+) aroma and flavor intensity, and medium body. The finish was medium. This wine offered a nice balance of floral, tropical fruit, and citrus notes, offering zippy acidity and lots of energy.
The 2016 Les Planels La Livinière was made of Syrah and Grenache. Primary aromas and flavors included wild blackberry, cassis, black olive tapenade, black pepper, dried lavender, and dried sage. Secondary notes included soft vanilla and clove. Tertiary notes unfolded to portabella mushroom, dirt, and a touch of game. This wine was dry, with medium (+) acidity, medium alcohol, medium (+) aroma and flavor intensity, and medium (+) body. The finish was medium (+). This wine is always a favorite—tons of flavor and layers of complexity without being too juicy or rich.
Grab a bottle of Maris! You won’t be disappointed.
