Mas Marer Montsant 2015
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Aged for 14 months in 3-4 year old French oak barrels and concrete tanks.
Blend: 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Merlot.
Mas Marer is a project between Sara Perez and Rene Barbier. They have good, loyal people working for them and these people also have their own vineyards, just outside Priorat in Montsant. Sara thought it would be nice to have a line featuring wines made from the vines of their helpers. Venus la Universal is the name of this venture. The Venus line of wines are from clay-limestone parcels in Montsant. The Dido wines from the schist soils of Montsant. And the young vines or the wines that are not selected for Venus or Dido go into our “little”, but excellent Montsant, Mas Marer.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
