This wine is a true blast from my past! Mas de Gourgonnier was among the first wines I worked with when I began my career in the wine business almost 40 years ago. The company I worked for then imported the wines from this family-owned domaine and distributed them in the Bay Area and beyond. Sales were very brisk and, with the wine selling at $7.99 per bottle, it was always nearly impossible to keep in stock. People loved the funky-shaped bottle—and still do!

I am happy to report that all these years later, the wine is as delicious as ever, though a bit more expensive than the good old days. The wine is still made by the Cartier family who have owned Mas de Gourgonnier for generations. Located in the village of Mouriès, the very definition of a gorgeous Provençal countryside town, the Cartiers were early adaptors to organic viticulture, way back in 1975. They farm over 100 acres in the Baux-en-Provence appellation, just north of Mouriès, in the foothills of the Alpilles Mountains. Their vineyards are 20-30 years old and thrive in the granitic and limestone soil of the district. Bathed in the warm climate of southern France and influenced by the unique Provençal atmosphere known as garrigue, the scrubby landscape emanates a heady blend of wild herbs, flowers and woodsy spice.

Their iconic, most popular red wine, a blend of Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, is a beautiful expression of the terroir of the surrounding countryside. With an engaging bouquet of woodsy spices, wildflowers and tart cherry fruit, the bright juicy fruit flavors are tempered by a bit of tannin, making it a wonderful partner for the simple but satisfying cuisine of the sunny south of France. Not at all heavy, there’s a lovely elegance to it I still find entrancing after all these years. And it’s still in that really cool bottle! – Frank Rothstein, PRIMA’s Minister of Value