Region: Languedoc, France
Appellation: St Guilhem-le-Desert IGP
Color/Style: Red Wine
Grapes: 50% Merlot, 40% Mourvedre, 10% Grenache

Tasting Notes
This 2023 from Mas des Brousses presents a clear, ripe red-berry core: think juicy plum, blueberry and a hint of brambly raspberry. From there, savory notes of tapenade, garrigue herbs and subtle minerality emerge. The blend combines old Merlot together with younger Mourvèdre (sourced from cuttings of his family’s vines at Domaine Tempier) to create a wine that’s medium-bodied yet has real texture and depth. 

Polaner Selections notes it is “medium-bodied with a lot of red fruit notes, followed by spice and minerality… velvety notes provided by the Merlot grape.” 

Expect smooth tannins, a fresh energy on the finish, and a style that is very drinkable now but will reward a short cellar of 2-4 years.

Why It’s Special

The wine comes from the same terroir as the domaine’s more prestigious cuvées, but at a much more accessible level — meaning you’re getting genuine site-identity and winemaking integrity at great value. 

The viticulture and winemaking are highly conscious: organic farming, minimal intervention, native yeasts, minimal or no filtration, and preservation of expressiveness of the land. 

The blend itself is noteworthy: a high proportion of Mourvèdre (which is uncommon at this level), brought in via massal cuttings from Domaine Tempier, alongside Merlot and possibly Grenache/Syrah, gives this wine structure and personality beyond the typical “easy Languedoc red.” 

It hits that “everyday special” space: durable enough to hold its own at the table, interesting enough for the curious wine-lover, and vibe-worthy for your boutique shop crowd.

About the Producer
Mas des Brousses is located in the hills above the Hérault river valley, near Puéchabon in the Languedoc region. The estate was established in 1997 by husband-and-wife team Xavier Peyraud and Géraldine Combes (Xavier is grandson of the legendary Lulu Peyraud of Domaine Tempier). 

They farm around 20 acres (or so) of vines of Grenache, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre (from the Tempier cuttings) and whites. 

Their soils are limestone and gravel/clay-rich terraces, in a region of scrub-covered hills of garrigue and pebble-strewn soils. 

They practice organic viticulture (no synthetic pesticides/herbicides), minimal tilling, hand-harvest, native yeast fermentation, and strive to bottle wines that capture the herbal, sun-warmed terroir (rosemary, thyme, sage). 
Polaner Selections

The “Chasseur des Brousses” cuvée represents their lighter, more approachable offering — a wine with heart, made for pleasure, yet with roots in serious terroir and craft.