Domaine et  
Vignobles Astruc
20, Avenue du Chardonnay   11300 MALRAS (Limoux)  
00 33 4 68 31 13 26 
00 33 4 68 31 72 11 
info@dastruc.com 

AWARDS / MEDALS 2006

Recognition of our peers

AWARDS / MEDALS / PRESS

Red Wines

White Wines

Red Wines

PROWEIN 2005

Halle 5 Stand B38

15.5/20 D.A. SAUVIGNON BLANC, Vin de Pays d'Oc 2004 :

Blankfarbener junger Wein, sehr typischer Sauvignon mit typischer, grünlicher Aromatik plus exotische Früchte, noch jugendlich ungestüm frisch.

15/20 D.A. CHARDONNAY, Vin de Pays d'Oc 2003
Reife Frucht mit Birne, Apfel... bei viel röstig; füllig mit pikant frischem Biss, nochhaltig

16/20 D.A.CABERNET SAUVIGNON, Vin de Pays d'Oc 2003
Der Wein ist so dicht, dass er noch Luft verlangt; schwarze Beerenfrüchte, Kirsche und Pfeffer, vollsaftig, dicht, stoffig und kirschfruchtig im Finale.

16/20 D.A. SYRAH, Vin de Pays 2003
Etwas Pflaumen und Gewürze, röstig ausgereizt, Kaffee, Leder ..., kräftigste Struktur mit sehr viel Gerbstoff.

15.5/20 D.A. MERLOT, Vin de Pays d'Oc 2003
International röstig gestylte Kirschfrucht mit Schoko und Toffee, alles sehr geschmackvoll und mit guten Gerbstoff.

DA Chardonnay Limoux 2002

Jane MacQuitty - The Times - 28 August 2004

11^e Confrontation Internationale
des Meilleurs Chardonnay du Monde

Gold Medal : d.A. Chardonnay Réserve 2003, Vin de pays d'Oc.

Guide Hubert des Vins

PIERJAC ASTRUC

**** Demi sec DA : Une mousse fine, avec un cordon élégant. Le nez développe du fruit blanc, des notes de mie, de pain. La bouche est suave, avec une bonne expression aromatique, sur la pomme mûre, des florales fines, le dosage est très mesuré. Un bon effervescent d'appéritif.

**** Brut DA : La mousse est abondante, la bulle un peu grosse. Le nez privilégie la mie de pain, des notes de poire. La bouche est vive avec du fruit blanc, des notes un peu grillées en finale.

Limoux

DOMAINE ASTRUC

*** (*) Blanc sec 2002 : Le nez privilégie le fruit, une pointe de torréfaction. Une bouche svelte, élégante, très aromatique, avec un boisé très bien fondu. Finit plutôt subtil.

Crémant de Limoux

PIERJAC ASTRUC

Un nez sur la pomme cuite, avec des notes un peu caramélisées, une bouche a la mousse légère. très aromatique, un vrai produit nature.

Prowein 2004

15,0 : 2002er AOC Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon; Chardonnay Pierjac Astruc Malras : Banane, Zitrus, Apfel, Melone, Honig . . . ; feinwürziges Holz bei gutem Schmelz, harmonisch.

14,5 : 2002er AOC Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon; Chardonnay Pierjac Astruc Malras : Vanille, Brotkrume vom würzigen Barrique, schmelzig-buttrig eingepasst bei guter Säurefrische.

15/20 : d.A. Chardonnay 2003.

National Competition
for the Vins de Pays
2004 - Paris

- Silver Medal: 'd.A. Sauvignon Blanc 2003 Vin de Pays d'Oc. Vin de Pays d'Oc, millésime 2001'.

Competition for the Grands Vins
du Languedoc-Roussillon

2004 :
- Silver Medal 'd.A. L.R.T. Red Vin de Pays d'Oc, 2003 vintage'.
- Gold Medal 'd.A. Syrah, 2003 vintage'.

2003 :
- Gold Medal 'd.A. LRT Red Vin de Pays d'Oc, 2001 vintage'.
- Silver Medal 'Domaine Astruc Sauvignon Blanc, Vin de Pays d'Oc, 2002 vintage'.
- Bronze Medal 'Domaine Astruc AC Limoux White, 2001 vintage, aged in oak barrels'.

2002 :
- Silver Medal 'Domaine Astruc Sauvignon Blanc Vin de Pays d'Oc, 2001 vintage'.

Competition for the Grands Vins
du Languedoc

2003 :
- Silver Medal 'd.A. Sauvignon White 2002 vintage'.

2002 :
- Silver Medal 'd.A. Sauvignon White 2001 vintage'.

Decanter
World Wine Awards 2004

- Bronze Medal "d.A. Chardonnay millésime 2003".
- Commended "d.A. LRT millésime 2003".
- Commended "d.A. Pinot Noir Réserve millésime 2003".
- Bronze Medal "d.A. Syrah Réserve millésime 2003".

Top 100
Vin de Pays - Grande Bretagne

- d.A. Chardonnay 2002 vintage
- d.A. Merlot 2002 vintage

International Wine Challenge
2004 Grande Bretagne

- Seal of Approval 'd.A. AOC LIMOUX millésime 2002'.

Juin / Juillet / Août 2004 - "Vins Rouge à boire frais"

- 15/20 : d.A. Pinot Noir Réservé 2003 vintage.

Guide Hachette des Vins 2001 & 2003 Domaine Astruc AOC Limoux, aged in oak barrels.

1998 Vintage:
The need to ferment and age the wine in barrels inevitably limits production. This also forces both grape-grower and wine-maker to follow a faultless process. The light golden 98 vintage has a nose redolent of the garrigue and its flowers, a sensation confirmed in the mouth where it reveals a full, rich flavour,.with a satisfying hint of oak. Ready to drink.

2000 vintage:
Created in 1862, this ancient estate marries tradition, know-how and dynamism. It is known for the quality of its products. Its shiny gold-laced robe, together with its delicious vervain, fennel and exotic fruit fragrances suggest a fine future for this wine.

August/September 2003

Press Release

dAring to be different

'daring': / adj. adventurous, bold, prepared to take risks (Oxford Dictionary)

'Daring' is an adjective that could easily apply to Jean-Claude Mas, owner and winemaker at Les Domaines Paul Mas, an independent, family-run winery based in Pézenas, the heart of the Languedoc. Having recently acquired the Domaine Astruc winery in Malras, Limoux, Jean-Claude and his brother viticulturist Michel have launched an exciting new range of wines quirkily named 'dA'. The brothers have been working closely with Jacques Astruc, owner of Domaine Astruc, for many years and the winery is already the main production centre and source of its Vin de Pays d'Oc varietal wines.

Old world wines with new world Attitude
"In introducing the dA range we are aiming to demonstrate what can be achieved when we combine the best of the old world - our terroir and our skills - with the best of the new world in terms of winemaking and wine style." Says Jean-Claude. The dA range offers fruit-driven, well-structured wines with consumer appeal both with regard to the palate profile and to the fresh, modern packaging concept which features clear varietal labelling.

The new dA range will include a 100% barrel-fermented dA Chardonnay 2001 (AOC Limoux), dA LRT (Limoux Red Trial) 2001, a barrel-aged blend of 55% Merlot, 25% Cabernet and 20% Syrah, as well as dA Sauvignon Blanc and dA Pinot Noir.
The wines will sit at the top end of the portfolio, retailing at around £7.99 and will be targeted at the traditional trade including the on-trade. From the 2003 vintage, red wines grown within the Limoux area will be entitled to the Limoux appellation (presently, only white wines can carry the AC mark). Other varietals planned for the dA range include a Malbec and Reserve Syrah, the first vintage of which will be 2002.
Feminine touch on the brand Agenda
Jean-Claude's constant desire to experiment in his search for excellence has lead to his recent appointment of two new winemakers who will be working with him on the dA brand - both female and both with new world backgrounds. Helena Lindberg, originally from Sweden, was winemaker at New Zealand's Nautilus winery in the Marlborough region and XXX, a Chilean, was previously at Anakena in the Rapel Valley.

Cooler climate wines from the famed Aude
Home of the new dA wines, Limoux is based in the Aude Valley and is surrounded by well-known regions such as Fitou, Corbieres and Minervois. However, set at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains, an hour south of the medieval walled city of Carcasonne, Limoux has a distinctly cooler climate than other Languedoc-Roussillon regions. With its Mediterranean climate and limestone soils Limoux offers perfect conditions for producing wines of great elegance and finesse.

With a strong viticultural background behind him (his father, Paul Mas, continues to be involved in the winemaking), Jean-Claude Mas has considerable experience in export markets all over the world, including Europe, Australia, North America and Asia. Always full of new ideas, he is never complacent, constantly keen to experiment with different grapes to produce more eclectic wines, although he admits that his heart belongs to Syrah.

"Although we have the greatest respect for heritage, tradition and experience", says Jean-Claude, "we realise that in order to compete in today's tough market, we need to add value to the Languedoc category by continuing to produce top quality wines with a good price/quality ratio, whilst offering the customer a good service and supporting our brands with the right marketing strategies. We will never stop experimenting to take the winery forward into the 21st century and the new dA range represents an important step in the right direction."

Winter term :December 2003 January-February 2004

Domaine Astruc
Blanquette de Limoux
5,30 Euros
Created in 1862 Domaine Astruc marries tradition and modernity.
A superb wine-making facility of 1000 barrels, impressive stainless
steel vats and undeniable know-how combine to make this a very pure
vintage with a pale yellow robe together with fine sparkles.
The nose full of tobacco , dry flowers and dry fig aromas is remarkably
mineral and crisp, confirmed in the mouth by a fine, soft, honey-flavoured
balance with a noticeable, lasting appetising taste of fruit.

PIERJACQ ASTRUC
11300 MALRAS
00 33 4 68 31 13 26

Domaine Astruc
Blanquette de Limoux - Méthode Ancestrale
5,75 Euros
In the same style as the estate's Brut that we have also selected,
we propose a remarkable traditional Méthode Ancestrale wine in an appetising
robe of golden yellow laced with flashes of green.
The nose is powerful but not excessive with classic flavours
of green apples, pears, and cinnamon spiced up with a peppery
crispness announcing a lively taste in the mouth.
It is both delicate and powerful, with tastes of quince, honey and perry.
It goes well with a finely caramelised apple pie or a marzipan cake.

PIERJACQ ASTRUC
11300 MALRAS
00 33 4 68 31 13 26

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