The 2015 Vintage was Awarded 89 points and Recommended status by Decanter (www.decanter.com) in their November 2016 edition's "Weekday Wines" (wines under £25) (see blue link below).
Chateau Gassier PdM 2015 - Nov 2016 Decanter review
Château Gassier is situated 25 Kms from the ancient town of Aix en Provence, at the foot of Sainte Victoire mountain. The Gassier family bought Château Gassier and its 40 hectares of vines in 1982. Today the vineyard is managed by Georges Gassier, who represents the fifth winegrowing generation of the family, working with the support from his father. It is only over time that passion, hard work and know-how combined, have helped Château Gassier to develop its exceptional potential for excellence. The Pas du Moine is named as a reference to the footpath furrowing the south facing slope of the Mount Sainte-Victoire. The cuvée Le Pas du Moine invites you to explore the richness of this magnificient Sainte-Victoire terroir. From the 2016 vintage, the wine has been certified organic.
Their 40 hectares of vineyard is composed of the following grape varieties: 30% Grenache noir, 30% Cinsault, 30% Syrah, 5% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 2% Rolle et 3% Ugni blanc. The Estate's wines have been officially certified organic wines since 2016. The majority of the wines have the Côtes-de-Provence Sainte-Victoire protected designation which allow a maximal production of 50 hectolitres/ha.
Night harvesting of the grapes is followed by cold direct pressing, fermentation at low temperature: 14°C and then 18°C at the end of the fermentation.
This wine has a lychee colour with purple reflections. It has an intense nose, playing with white floral and exotic fruits notes. In the mouth, the first impression is fresh and round, supported by the citrus fruits delicacy (guava, grapefruit….). It has a great lingering finish.
