2017 was a year of contrasts at Mas des Quernes: On the one hand, after a rainy spring, like so many colleagues, we were hit by late frost and a good 25% of the yield was lost. On the other hand, the rest of the year was consistently dry and warm, and the grapes were able to ripen very well. Violets, licorice, Brazilian tobacco and ripe blueberries on the nose, lots of herbal freshness of mint and juniper on the palate, dark chocolate and pumpernickel on the finish. Freshness, even a certain coolness, characterizes the vintage despite all its ripeness and opulence. That may sound contradictory, but it also fits with this very changeable winemaking year. The 2017 vintage is already sold out in the normal bottle and is only available as a magnum.