In the glass
Aroma: red plum, garrigue, white pepper, wood smoke
Palate: red cherry, Mediterranean herbs, warm stone, salt
The single-parcel cuvée from a sandstone-and-schist terroir east of Jonquieres; precise, structured and built to age 10 to 15 years from a top vintage.
What it pairs with
-
Saddle of venison with juniper
The wine's garrigue and white pepper notes echo the gamy juniper register. -
Slow-braised wild boar
Carlan's structure and earthy depth carry the boar's gamey richness. -
Aged Roquefort with quince
The salty-blue cheese finds counterpoint in the wine's warm-stone and red-fruit lift.
History
Carlan is a single-parcel cuvée from a sandstone-and-schist site east of Jonquieres, exposed in a way that protects the vines from the late afternoon sun. The cuvée crystallised the Terrasses du Larzac discussion of terroir-driven Languedoc reds in the early 2000s.
- 2005 — First vintage of Carlan labelled as a single-parcel cuvée
- 2014 — Terrasses du Larzac AOC granted full status
Facts
- Producer
- Mas Jullien
- Grapes
- Grenache (60%), Carignan (25%), Cinsault, Syrah
- Classification
- AOC Terrasses du Larzac
- Oak
- 18-24 months in used foudres
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 55-90 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5-20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2005
- Biodynamic
- Biodynamic Practicing
- Organic
- ORGANIC CERTIFIED
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Carlan
What does Mas Jullien Carlan taste like?
Red plum, garrigue and white pepper on the nose; red cherry, Mediterranean herbs and warm stone on the palate. Medium-bodied with firm fine-grained tannins and a long savoury finish.
When should I drink Mas Jullien Carlan?
Drink between 5 and 20 years from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 90 minutes of decanting; the wine reaches its peak at 10-15 years from a top vintage.
What food pairs with Mas Jullien Carlan?
Saddle of venison with juniper is the canonical pairing; the wine's garrigue and pepper notes echo the gamy register. Slow-braised wild boar and aged Roquefort with quince are equally strong matches.
Where is Mas Jullien Carlan made?
From a single sandstone-and-schist parcel east of Jonquieres in the Terrasses du Larzac AOC. Olivier Jullien selected the site for its sheltered eastern exposure.