2021 Domaine du Mas Bécha Côtes du Roussillon ‘Classique’

60% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre; all certified organic. The vines are planted on clay-limestone soils with galets (large stones) in the Les Aspres village, sharing the land with olive trees and other cohabitating crops. The grapes undergo a cold soak before fermentation (2-4 days), followed by aging in stainless-steel tanks.

Pours a dense, dark ruby/purple color with ripe, almost jammy dark berry fruit flavors with smokey, thyme, licorice and a hint of pepper. Medium-full bodied, with plenty of dense, dark, rich fruit and smokey, earthy, licorice-y notes. Well balanced and a great value.

Mas Bécha was founded in 2008 by Charles Perez, a native of Perpignan. After enology school, Charles worked harvests in Bordeaux and the United States before completing the Master of Science in Wine Management delivered by the OIV (International Wine Organization). He returned to his family’s 215 acre estate, which had previously sold all of its fruit to a local bulk-wine producer, where most of it was designated for sweet wines. The estate now boasts  62 acres of vines, with the rest of the land devoted to gardening, almond trees, olive trees, forage plants and cork oaks. They achieved organic certification in 2011.  

Bordered by the Spanish border in Northern Catalonia, the Aspres represent the often forgotten region of Roussillon, south of Perpignan. Its own appellation “Côtes du Roussillon Villages Les Aspres” was only made official in 2004.