Discover Mas Neuf

The history of Mas Neuf

The history of Mas Neuf is closely linked to its location along very ancient
traffic routes which passed close to its vineyards.

From the 18th century, the road from Saint Gilles to Compostella, runs 100 metres to the south of a Medieval ruin and naturally led to the owner of the area to establish a post house to shelter men and their mounts for some hours or for the night.

These lands enjoy an excellent aspect and for some centuries, the vines have occupied a priviledged place around the noble building. It was during some work in the vineyard block known as the "Clos Saint Sébastien" that a farmer came across some Roman coins used by the first inhabitants of Nemausus, the VOLCEARECOMICS. This coin bears the four first letters of their name: VOLC.

Today we can admire these coins at the N?mes archeological museum. It is also the symbol that today serves as a hallmark for all the exceptional blends from Mas Neuf. The reputation of this post house and the quality of its hospitality became increasingly well known and the main part of the building was extended towards the end of the 18th century by the addition of a chapel which would be transformed into a cask cellar in the mid 19th century.

It was a frequent guest to this place, Lord Fran?ois de Posquières, who together with other famous wine farmers, created the first regional wine association, gathering together what would become the beautiful gem of the artisanal wine farmers of the Costières de N?mes. It was with great delight that he tasted the fruit of this terroir whilst professing that as an informed epicurian, it was necessary to maintain a measure of moderation.

One of the famous owners at the beginning of the century, Lord Meffre, would be responsible for the distinctive thrust of this vineyard. He installed spectacular casks in the ancient chapel. In selecting cultivars of quality, and having an inspired set-up from the point of view of agronomic techniques, he stamped the estate with this perfectionism which would never leave its building.

Since 2000, Luc Baudet and his team have chosen to increase the exceptional potential of this vineyard by working on all the key elements that make a great wine: first of all, the vineyard and then extreme care in the cellar.

The vineyards

Quite exceptional soil and climatic conditions

The position of Chateau Mas Neuf, half way up the southern flank of the Costières de N?mes is very special. The exposure to the sun is similar to that found in the Languedoc or Provence, but the proximity of lagoons and the sea allows it to take advantage of warm sea breezes drifting up from the Mediterranean. In summer we often see dew settle during the night and early morning, and we note temperatures 4 to 5°C (8-9°F) cooler than those found further inland.

At the Southern extremity of the Rhone Valley (a very warm region), this unexpected coolness is a real singularity which marks the selection of the most adapted grape varieties and on the style of wine. We call it the "Rh?ne paradox".

The principal vineyards grouped around the winery have the advantage of being firmly planted on well drained brown fersiallitic soils, with a good proportion of Villafranchian era pebbles from the Durance and the Rhone. This soil ensures that the vines can get regular but moderate supplies of water. The differing depths and composition create micro terroirs with different characteristics, which we enhance by varying our viticultural techniques.

Grape varieties, adapted to the conditions of the terroir The planting consists mainly of Syrah (45%), Grenache noir (25%), Carignan (10%), Mourvèdre (16%), Cinsault (5%), Grenache Blanc (4%) and Roussanne (5%) for a total area of 65 hectares, topped off a hectare of olive trees.

The vines are aged from 3 to 90 years averaging 30 years old. Some small parcels here and there are planted and worked experimentally with high quality varietals not common in the area: Viognier, Chardonnay and Merlot.

Man in harmony with his land Thanks to the way we look after our vineyards, every trump card is played to help the vines express themselves most elegantly. We only use spur pruning techniques, such as Cordon de Royat and Gobelet. While the vine is growing, each intervention (de-suckering, disbudding, cluster thinning and topping) is used in such a way as best to adapt the vine to its micro-environment. Most of our parcels are grassed over with care, and when essential, only organic fertilisers are used.

The fruits of patience

We start harvesting when the tests we carry out on crucial parcels of land - at first weekly, then daily - show optimum maturity. The harvest is done partly mechanically and partly by hand. The hand picked part consists of the white wines, and the top quality blends, and in these sections, we carry out a preliminary screening of the grapes on the vine.

As for the mechanical harvest, it is carried out passively and with extreme care, in such a way as to minimise the time taken to get the grapes to the winery. This is always under 20 minutes, thanks to their close proximity.

Medals Gold medals Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition White 2008: Concours Général Agricole Paris 2009 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Rosé 2008: Concours des Grands Vins d'Orange 2009 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Rosé 2008: Concours des Vignerons Indépendants 2009 Chateau Mas Neuf Compostelle Rosé 2006: Concours des grands vins du Languedoc-Roussillon 2007 (Les Oenologues de France) Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition White 2006: Concours des grands vins du Languedoc-Roussillon 2007 (Les Oenologues de France) Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Rosé 2006: Concours Général Agricole Paris 2007 Chateau Mas Neuf Armonio 2005: International Wine Challenge, Vienna 2009 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Red 2005: Concours du Grand Delta - Avignon 2006 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Rosé 2005: Concours du Grand Delta - Avignon 2006 Chateau Mas Neuf Armonio 2004: 15th Vinalies Internationales 2009 Chateau Mas Neuf La Mourvache Red 2004:Concours Général Agricole Paris 2005 Chateau Mas Neuf Compostelle Red 2004: Prix d'Excellence - Vinalies 2006 Chateau Mas Neuf Compostelle Red 2004:Concours Général Agricole Paris 2005 Chateau Mas Neuf Compostelle Red 2004: Concours des Grands Vins d'Orange 2005 (Médaille d'Or avec les félicitations du jury) Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Red 2004: Concours Général Agricole Paris 2005 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Red 2004: Concours des Grands Vins d'Orange 2005 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Red 2003: Concours des Grands Vins d'Orange 2004 Chateau Mas Neuf tradition Red 2003:Concours Général Agricole Paris 2004 Chateau Mas Neuf Compostelle Red 2003: Concours des Grands Vins d'Orange 2004 Chateau Mas Neuf Red 2002: Concours des Grands Vins d'Avignon 2003 Chateau Mas Neuf Red 2001: Concours Général Agricole Paris 2002 Silver medals Chateau Mas Neuf Compostelle white 2008: International Wine Challenge, Vienna 2009 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Rosé 2008: Concours Général Agricole Paris 2009 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Rosé 2008: Concours des grands vins du Languedoc-Roussillon 2007 (Les Oenologues de France) Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Red 2008: Concours des vins de la Foire d'Avignon 2009 Chateau Mas Neuf La Mourvache 2007: International Wine Challenge, Vienna 2009 Chateau Mas Neuf Avec des Si... 2007: International Wine Challenge, Vienna 2009 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Red 2007: Concours des Vins d'Orange 2008 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition White 2006: Concours Général Agricole Paris 2007 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Rosé 2006: Concours Général Agricole Paris 2007 Chateau Mas Neuf La Mourvache 2005: International Wine Challenge, Vienna 2009 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition White 2005: Concours des Vignerons Indépendants 2006 Chateau Mas Neuf Armonio 2004: Wine Style Asia Awards (Singapour) 2008 Chateau Mas Neuf Tradition Rosé 2004: Concours des Grands Vins d'Orange 2005 Chateau Mas Neuf Compostelle Red 2003:Concours Général Agricole Paris 2004 Chateau Mas Neuf Red 2002: Concours Général Agricole Paris 2003 Chateau Mas Neuf White 2002: Concours des Grands Vins d'Orange 2002 Chateau Mas Neuf Red 2000: Concours Général Agricole Paris 2001