Saint-Félix-de-Pallières: at the Mazelet farmhouse, the vine sings

Under the benevolence of the august presbytery, the team of harvesters began, Tuesday, September 3, with a plot of Pinot Noir. Stéphane BARBIER – STEPHANE BARBIER

Ronald Van Breemen during the harvest instructions on a first plot of Pinot Noir. Stéphane BARBIER – STEPHANE BARBIER

The team of grape pickers at the moment of the morning break with coffee and croissants… Stéphane BARBIER – STEPHANE BARBIER

All smiles, Ronald and Frédéric during a first visit to the vineyards… Stéphane BARBIER – STEPHANE BARBIER

L'ensemble de la gamme des vins du Mazelet orné du sanglier, hôte indésirable du vignoble. Stéphane BARBIER – STEPHANE BARBIER

Comme chaque année les vendangeurs du mas du Mazelet concluent, en chœur, le millésime d’une vigne ressuscitée par Ronald van Breemen et Kim Nasmyth.

6:40, a point of light swings between dog and wolf. Lamp in hand, Wilma guides with a sure gesture the hesitant grape pickers as they approach the vineyard and its discreet 17th century presbytery still plunged into darkness.
In the surrounding area, while the harvesting machines can already be heard here, silence reigns. Barely disturbed by the still sleepy voices of about fifteen harvesters welcomed that morning by the winemaker Ronald Van Breemen and Frédéric, a farm worker. Women and men, from here or elsewhere, forming this “colle” whose companionship, about fifteen days, forms the joyful conclusion to this work in the vineyard dear to the duo of winegrowers.

Wine, above all, is pleasure

A no-brainer for the Englishman Kim Nasmyht, a biochemist from Oxford and purchaser in 2012 of this abandoned vineyard, reputed to be difficult due to its geography and heterogeneous soils. Joined by the Dutchman Ronald Van Breemen, it is naturally that this tradition of “colle” has been revived (a team of grape harvesters, editor's note) forming the living and invigorating link between the land and the cellar.
"  There, it's still calm, it's the first day, smiles Ronald Van Breemen. But soon, there will be this hubbub above the vines, an old-fashioned atmosphere, in good humor despite the physical effort, that we are looking for. Because wine, above all, is pleasure. “
As soon as the first instructions are given concerning a plot of pinot noir whose bunches must be carefully sorted, the duos set off into the grassy vines. After a few hours of harvesting, the first snippets of conversation, intimate or current, are heard.

90% of the work is done in the vineyards

As the sun finally emerges from the eastern hill of the estate, Lucio savors " this nice early autumn get-together. There is a desire here to do things well through manual and not mechanical work, to bring the territory to life, in a friendly atmosphere. And what's more, they make a very good wine… "
Certified organic, the vineyard offers a variety of facies and geology (marl, slate, clay, etc.) which do not make the task of these winegrowers struggling to do well and good things any easier. Like Mark Twain's quote “They did not know it was impossible, so they did it” , Ronald van Breemen emphasizes how “ ignorance ”  has turned into a force. Passion taking over from a colossal amount of work, from grape variety choices that seem risky to others, while the duo perfects itself through experience. Joined by oenologist Matthieu Lequeux, attached since the beginning of the adventure to the formation of “ a vat foot” in order to transform the juices with indigenous yeasts, the wines, in three colors, vinified on site, are here of " freshness on the fruit without too much extraction. But 90% of the work is done in the vines " , asserts Ronald Van Breemen.
While the star veils itself, the song of the vine amplifies. In Dutch between Hans and Ronald, while the Cévenole Morgane underlines " solidarity, mutual aid experienced on board this boat” that forms the “glue”.
"  And then what could be more beautiful than starting your day in nature, with the sun, participating in something living, something human, confides Cécilia. We participate in highlighting their work, it's great! And what's more, they take great care of you… "

Le Mazelet, Mas du Mazelet in St-Félix-de-Pallières. Contact: 06 17 25 56 87. I subscribe to read more