During Vinisud one of the wineries from the Banyuls-Collioure region was Domain Mas Baux from Canet de Roussillion so while browsing in a local wine store in Argeles Sur Mer for obscurities that are not imported into the USA I saw they had a six year young bottle of the 2006 Mas Baux Velours Rouge Cotes Catalanes, which I recalled from my talk with the winemaker was a year that needed time. Well, given it was on the shelf, I was in the region, I decided for the whopping price of under 10 Euros to give it a go. And go it did, as the blend of Grenache and Syrah which has since changed to Grenache and Mourvedre was stunning. Bright, flavorful, jammy and perfect with the local Tome Catalanes cheese I picked up around the corner to taste along side the local finds.
The wine has a bouquest of blackberry, raspberry and blueberry jam, with nice mineral notes as well. On the palate it's just yummy. Think Cotes du Rhone made in Napa or Sonoma, where the maritime heat brings out more of the flesh of the fruit, layers it with that taste of grape jam we all loved as kids being slathered onto toast in the morning. Well, that's how this wine is. Jammy, ripe, tasty and not at all tarty. The 2010 I recall from Vinisud needed time. It was just out of the barrel and to be candid, the wine was not yet finished. Now having tasted an older, well bottle aged version, I can safely say that Mas Baux makes wines of character and flavor, and is the kind of find you want to keep all to yourself, but know better that wine is for sharing. It was like finding an old friend, and the kind of friend you really can appreciate.