These tasting notes accompany our in-depth feature following a visit to Provence. For profiles of all of these estates please see Regional report: Provence in the Pink.
DOMAINES OTT
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Domaines Ott, Château de Sell Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
40% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Syrah. Lightly fruity, quite elegant nose, with faint herb and straw aromas, lightly creamy. Palate has delicious fruit, with lots of substance too, a little tart green apple and lemon bite and very good length showing some spice and a touch of tannin. 87/100. €20.50 at cellar door.
Domaines Ott, Clos Mireilles Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah. Less richness and creaminess on the aromatics, but citrus peel and gently floral and herbal notes. A definite touch of mineral saltiness. The palate has plenty of freshness and fruity bite, but it is a lean, quite sinewy rose cuvee, with that salty lick of freshness and juicy lemon. 87/100. This is the cuvée that comes to the UK.
Domaines Ott, Château Romarssan Bandol Rosé 2010
Mourvèdre, Cinsault and a touch of Grenache. Quite different, with a darker, almost chocolate edged note to the fruit, and a mellow earthiness. The palate has a lean juiciness; there’s a cool apple fruit and a pithy grapefruit quality. It is perhaps fuller, richer and more structured, but less refined. Lots of grip and fruit. 87/100.
Domaines Ott, Clos Mireilles Côtes de Provence Blanc 2010
70% Semillon, Rolle. Lovely nose, with a lemony freshness but also a touch of custard and vanilla, but delicately so. Still that mineral hint of freshness. The palate has a lovely fruit richness and sweetness, a hint of fat to the mid-palate, lots of orchard fruits and lemon peel, with delicate spices in the finish and a long, creamy texture finishing with bone dry minerality. 89-90/100.
Domaines Ott, Château Romassan Bandol Rouge 2008
Mourvèdre 85%, Grenache, Syrah, Has a gamey, bloody aspect to the nose with a richness to the bramble and earthy sweet fruit. The palate is bone dry, with a lean, leathery, sinewy aspect, perhaps lacking a little flesh when tasted on its own, but has lovely spice and freshness, and yes good sweet fruit in the finish. 88/100.
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CHÂTEAU VIGNELAURE
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Château Vignelaure, Le Page Vin de pays Rouge 2007
90% Cabernet and Merlot. Deliciously ripe and sweet fruit, with lots of plush berries and creaminess, a bit of structure too and lovely development of sweet fruit, tannins and balanced acidity. Tastes more expensive than the 7 Euro price. 87/100.
Château Vignelaure, La Source Rosé 2010
Second wine. Fine peachy pink, medium density. Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah. Lovely gentle rose hip and gentle raspberry fruit, with a palate riven with acidity that is stony and firm, though the sweet peachiness of the fruit comes through. 87/100.
Château Vignelaure, Rosé 2010
Hand-picked old vines, a blend of 80% Grenache and Syrah. This cuvee made with natural yeast. There’s a smoky, herbal minerality here. Again that rose hip note and a similar but deeper berry fruit, but there’s a little oatmeal and creamy richness before that very fresh, red fruit acidity. 88/100.
Château Vignelaure, Rosé 2009
There is 70% Grenache in this year with the Syrah. Philippe prefers the rosé with a year in bottle, and this has a darker colour and a powerfully savoury nose, with lots of smoke and herb notes, a touch of spice. The palate has power and depth, the lemony, steely acidity is driving this, but the fine red fruit and herb notes are still lovely, a little gravelly structure. 90/100.
Château Vignelaure, La Source Rouge 2008
Cabernet (50%), Syrah, Grenache and Carignan, part aged in oak. Very schist and bright cherry fruit, nicely fine herb notes, onto a palate of smooth black and red berry fruit, a alight creaminess to the palate but a decent structure too with grip and good acidity. This has some real power and good length. 88/100.
Château Vignelaure, Rouge 2007
Not yet on sale, but early in 2012. The estate believes in long bottle ageing. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah. Oldest vines, handpicked, long maceration and then into barrels for 18 months, one-third new. Gorgeous nose, with delicious cedar and Sandalwood. Has cassis and a delicious cherry edge of freshness. The palate has real grip with liquoricy tannins and plenty of firm, black fruit skin grippy character. Lovely freshness. 90/100.
Château Vignelaure, Rouge 2006
Creamy and full-fruited, seems to have soaked up the barrel more, with a plushness to the aromas. L:ittle spicy and cedary edges. On the palate this has a lovely linear, silky length with a cool-fruited, black fruit mid-palate and a long, juicy finish with plenty of acidity. 90/100.
Château Vignelaure, Rouge2005
Fabulous nose, the cedary quality of the oak but hinting at chocolate and real fruit richness. Quite meaty and deep, but clean too with lovely gamy notes but beautifully pitched. The palate has gorgeous fruit too: very classical structure, lots of fruit but perfect balance from ripe tannins and that cherry skin bite of acidity. 92/100.
Château Vignelaure, Rouge 2004
Gorgeous Bordeaux-like nose, with a touch of cedar and some resinous quality but melding with smooth, ripe black fruits. The tannins here are tight and fine, there is real juiciness, tightness, a squirt of cherry ripe fruit and good acidity, but a structured but beautifully mellow character too. 90/100.
Château Vignelaure, Rouge 1999
Still amazingly youthful and fresh on the nose, but a gorgeous, balanced nose of fine, creamy black fruit, gentle oak smokiness and tiny floral and gamy notes with spice. The palate has delicious fruit sweetness and medium-bodied finesse, with gorgeous, now ripe and silky tannins and lovely balanced acidity. What a fabulous wine. 93/100.
Château Vignelaure, Rouge 1985
This was the first ever AOC Coteaux d’Aix vintage. Fading at rim, but still a healthy ruby colour. Fabulous smoky and gamy notes, really involving and inviting with bacon fat and hints of chocolate. The palate still has inherent sweetness and juiciness, with delicious gastronomic freshness and very fine tannins. Delicious juiciness, and great balance and length. What a terrific wine again. 92/100.
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DOMAINE DE RIMAURESQ
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Domaine de Rimauresq, Petit Rimauresq Rosé 2010
Screwcap. Cinsault, Grenache and Carignan. Quite a vibrant pink. Rose hip aromas, a touch of lemon and fresh apple skins. The palate is really fresh, with a little bit of roundness and weight, but the finish crisp and fruity and very easy to drink. 86-87/100.
Domaine de Rimauresq, Cru Classé Rosé 2010
Tibouren, with Cinsault, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Rose hips and fresh raspberry, with quite a lot of spices and grip on the palate there is a real skinny bite and grip. 87/100.
Domaine de Rimauresq, R Cru Classé Rosé 2010
Old Grenache. Vinous red fruit nose with lots of lemon and lime peel grip and flavour. Full, rich wine, with lots of texture and grip, lots of acidity and power, which Pierre says will calm by Easter – too early to drink. 87-88/100.
Domaine de Rimauresq, Cru Classé Blanc 2010
Rolle, with 10% Ugni Blanc. From slate soils. Lots of character and power, this is punchy and has a punchy apple fruit – ripe and full. On the palate juicy and powerful, laden wit pithy lemon and grapefruit. Big and flavourful. 87-88/100.
Domaine de Rimauresq, R Cru Classé Blanc 2010
Goes into 500 litre barrels, all older. There is a tiny nut and honeyed aroma joining that lemon and apple fruit. The razor like acidity is huge at the core of this again, these are huge, mouth-watering wines crying out for a plate of moules marinière. 88/100.
Domaine de Rimauresq, Cru Classé Rouge 2008
Carignan, Syrah and Cabernet. Deeply fruited plum and blackcurrant, with really tight, sinewy structure and masses of tannin. Really fairly bruising stuff that needs a little time perhaps: big strapping stuff with lots of substance. 87/100.
Domaine de Rimauresq, R Cru Classé Rouge 2007
70% Cabernet with Syrah. One year in barrique. Fresh, attractively fruity nose with black fruit and a little schist, charcoally edge and damson skin darkness. The palate has a succulent juiciness, with lots of inherent sweetness and ripeness. Long and structured, but has real sweetness of fruit at the core. 89/100.
Domaine de Rimauresq, Quintessence Rouge 2007
Harvested at 20hl/ha. Mourvèdre 85%, Syrah. Very dark, deep, brooding black fruit. Lots of tightly-wound, glossy black fruit but with such a tannic grip on the palate, such structure and weight of spices and fruit. This is a another huge wine, with suspicions of spice and chocolate, but the essence of the fruit is intensely sweet and concentrated. Would be one to lay down for a while, the big, spicy concentration now suggesting decanting would be worthwhile. 91/100.
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CHÂTEAU LA COSTE
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Château La Coste, ‘Belluge’ Coteaux d’Aix en Provence Rosé 2010
Lovely colour – the peachiest salmon pink. Fine pink grapefruit nose, very fresh. Nice rosy apple nuances and a touch of herbs. The palate has a richness and a great grapefruity and lemon acidity and fruit. Dry, mouth-filling. 87/100.
Château La Coste, ‘Les Pentes Douces’ Coteaux d’Aix en Provence Blanc 2009
Vermentino and Sauvignon Blanc, aged in barrel. Delightful creamy , gently oatmeally and herbal nose. Soft melon and apple fruit, but that intense dry finish, again a touch of lemon peel wax but really dry and fresh. 89/100.
Château La Coste, Vin de Pays Blanc 2010
Le Grand Vin is VdP because of a little proportion of Chardonnay, with a slightly larger proportion of Vermentino than the Pentes Douces. Delightful nose, lots of oatmeal and a touch of almond, really nice fat lemon fruit and apple, but that nuttiness too. The palate is super clean, with the 50% new oak adding more creamy richness and lots of punch on the mid palate into a long, elegant finish. 91/100.
Château La Coste, ‘Les Pentes Douces’ Coteaux d’Aix en Provence Rouge 2009
Only 10% of this blend is barrel aged. It is 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 35% Grenache. Masses of creamy fruit and smooth black, cassis ripeness. The palate has real juiciness too, with lovely acidity and freshness, the tannins fine. Not the most powerful, concentrated mid-palate, with a touch of liquorice and meaty savour in the finish. 89/100.
Château La Coste, Coteaux d’Aix en Provence Rouge 2009
Cabernet Sauvignon is almost half the blend of the Grand Vin, plus Syrah and Grenache. A touch reduced at first, lots of herby and intense concentration here. The palate has a cool, herb edged finesse, big, powerful tannins that dry the mouth, this needs time to settle, but the concentration of fruit and the delicious sweetness of the fruit. Really balances the power. Terrific. 92/100.
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CHÂTEAU DE CHAUSSE
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Château de Chausse, Domaine de Chausse Vin de Pays Blanc 2009
A cuvée based on Viognier with Chardonnay, Semillon and Rolle. Very nice if discreet nose, with some delicate rose notes and a hint of correct apricot and spice. The palate has a cool, fresh appealing palate with refine sweet pear and gentle lemon fruit. It is easy to drink and has good aperitif balance, a touch of almost imperceptible sweetness counteracting a tiny but not unappealing astringency. 86-87/100.
Château de Chausse, Blanc 2010 100% Rolle. Beautifully punchy, herby nose, with a slatey lick of minerals and fine lemon juice freshness. Fine yeasty notes too. The palate has lovely fruit and bursts with flavour. It has 14% alcohol, but carries it very nicely into a long, fresh finish. Gorgeous, limpid stuff. 90/100.
Château de Chausse, Rouge 2000 Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Made by Madame Schelcher. Lovely nose, with a touch of meaty and gamy aroma, but lots of sweet black fruit. Hints of black olive and onto the palate beautiful fruit sweetness, deliciously smooth and creamy tannins and a twist of liquorice, with plenty of spice and delicious length. 91/100.
Château de Chausse, Rouge 2008 Lovely fresh cassis and raspberry, lots of fruity brightness, but also a gamy edge, a touch of undergrowth. On the palate a touch of chocolate and liquorice. Very fresh in the finish. 88-89/100.
Château de Chausse, Rouge 2007 Nice sense of fresh black fruits again, a bit of cherry skin grip and ripeness, lots of grippy freshness, the tart cherry and plum skin grip adding a real edge. Fine quality, tight and needs time. 89/100.
Château de Chausse, ‘Rubis’ Rouge 2008 99% Syrah, but it can still be an AOC wine. Tight and quite meaty, with a balsamic richness and plenty of grip and concentration. Lovely quality here, and really long and tight. Needs time. 89-90/100.
Château de Chausse, Rosé 2010 Cinsault and Grenache. Bright, fresh, elegantly fruity and fresh, lots of floral and raspberry notes, even a touch of lavender. 87/100.
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CHÂTEAU DE SAINT MARTIN
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Château de Saint Martin, Grande Reserve Blanc 2010
Ugni Blanc. Fresh and delicate nose, nice bright fruit and spices, lots of fresh lemon and the palate has a clean juiciness and well-balanced, if a touch astringent. 85/100.
Château de Saint Martin, Cuvée Comtesse de Saint Martin Blanc 2009
60% Rolle, 40% Clairette, half of the Rolle fermented and aged eight months in barrel. Creamy and nutty, with apparent but subtle vanilla and orangy, lemony aromas. The palate has lovely clarity and definition, and a nice long finish. 88/100.
Château de Saint Martin, Blanc de Blancs NV
Sparkling wine, the base wine made on the property and finished in a facility run by a Champagne house in Provence, traditional method. Rolle, Ugni Blanc and Clairette, 24 months ageing. Apples and a touch of rhubarb and custard, attractively easy to drink. Off-dry, with lots of fresh, easy-drinking attraction. 86-87/100.
Château de Saint Martin, Eternal Favourite Rosé 2010
Tibouren, Cinsault and Grenache. Designed as an easy to drink, but sophisticated aperitif wine. Lots of raspberry fruity freshness, fine and dry lemony palate with a pithy bite, but the sweet fruit and light framework makes it attractively easy to drink. 86/100.
Château de Saint Martin, Grande Reserve Rosé 2010
Carignan, Cinsault, Tiburon, Grenache, Syrah. Plenty of fresh, bright fruit, leading onto a dry palate, mouth-watering dry red fruits and pithy lemon freshness. More of a food wine, but really nicely balanced. 87/100.
Château de Saint Martin, Comtesse Rosé 2010
Old Carignan plus Syrah and Grenache. Prefers to release this one year after harvest if possible. “A gastronomically rosé”. Slightly deeper colour, Quite deep fruit with a certain perfume of flowers and very gentle smokiness over berry fruits. The palate has that burst of orangy acidity, and a fine lemony palate with a touch of raspberry. Adeline recommends with lobster of cooked foie gras. 87/100.
Château de Saint Martin, Bulles de Rosé NV
Traditional method fizz with only 12.5% alcohol. Nettly and yeasty nose, with fresh raspberry fruit. Some strawberry softness. A blend of Cinsault and Syrah. 12 months ageing. Again, the mousse is a touch aggressive, but pleasantly drinkable. 86/100.
Château de Saint Martin, Grande Reserve Rouge 2009
Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet and Mourvèdre. Unoaked. A touch medicinal, a touch gamy from the Mourvèdre, with supply leathery but fresh black fruit. Juicy and smooth, with just a nip of tannin and acidity. 86/100.
Château de Saint Martin, Comtesse de Saint Martin Rouge 2005
Roughly equal parts very old Carignan, Syrah and Grenache. This is current release, with 6 years of age. One year in barrel for Syrah. Deep, mocha-touched nose, with a little gamy quality, a little animal nuance, with the palate slightly lacking fruit perhaps. Pleasant balance but plenty of sour lemon acidity, and soft tannins. 86-87/100.
Château de Saint Martin, Cru Classé Rouge 2003
Cabernet, Syrah and Mourvèdre, two years in barrels. Lots of deep spice and smokiness here, quite plush and deep with plummy and blackcurrant fruit. The palate has a little more sweetness and juiciness, with nice hints of fatness and sweetness on the mid-palate, and good balance – again tannins very soft. 88/100.
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MAS DE CADENET
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Mas de Cadenet Rosé de Provence Sainte Victoire 2010
Composed of 40% Grenache, 30% Cinsault and 20% Syrah, this has a discrete, gravelly nose. Lovely mineral dryness and plenty of slatey, herby quality. The palate too is dry and savoury, with just a hint of luscious sweet berries, but it is spice and earthiness that drives this. 89/100.
Famille Negrel Rosé de Provence Saint Victoire 2010
There is less Cinsault in this cuvée and more Syrah. Lovely freshness. A little more lively aromatically than the Mas de Cadenet. The palate has more berry fruit, traded for some of the mineral complexity, but a delicious mouth-watering core of acidity and freshness despite the easy drinking charm. 88/100. In Majestic.
Mas de Cadenet Rouge de Provence Sainte Victoire 2009
Grenache and Syrah with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, aged eight months in old foudres (large wooden barrels), this has a slightly animal nose but then ripe, rich berry fruit and just a touch of leathery, bretty medicinal notes spoiling the picture. The palate is a touch stripped by the brett too, the fruit silky and tannins soft, but all just a little suppressed. 85/100.
Mas Negrel Cadenet Rouge de Provence Sainte Victoire 2007
The top wine, 10,000 bottles of which are made, from a selection of the oldest vines. It is the same blend as the Mas de Cadenet but aged 12 months in barriques, one third new. Lovely nose: still that little gamy and leathery note, but now melding with cedar and smoke and a really rich berry fruit. The palate is really rich and mouth-filling, much more fruit and a solid, creamy texture, the spicy, rich tannins and good acidity adding structure. Great depth and conviction here and age worthiness. 91/100.
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MAISON FABRE
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Château de la Deidière Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
From pierrefue vineyard named after red soils. Yeasty, fresh, lemony and melon aromas, with delicious palate showing plenty of spice, a creamy texture and quite a powerful vinous character with good red fruit. Quite robust. 86/100.
Château de l’Aumérade, Cuvée Marie-Christine Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
Mostly Grenache. Very refined nose, with delicate floral and red fruits, and lemon peel too. The palate has a delicious dry apple fruitiness and tang. This is elegant and has a soft, easy finish but balanced by crisp apple and mineral freshness. 88/100.
Château de la Clapière Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
55ha two kilometres away from the sea, on chalky soils, breezy and dry. Mainly Grenache with syrah and Cinsault. Refined nose again, perhaps a little more roundness to the fruit and a little more spiciness. A touch of herby character. On the palate a little more robust and more fruity, but still elegant. 87/100.
Château de l’Aumérade, Cuvée Seigneur de Piègros Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
35000 bottles. Grenache and Cinsault. Very pale, a yeasty, dry apple fruit. Delicate herbal notes, touches of grapefruit and lemon, with real juiciness, and a long finish with delicate spice and a touch of tannin. 88/100.
Diadema Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
The Diadema brand was originally created in Tuscany and now Maison Fabre supply their rosé, which is bottled in Italy in a bottle encrusted with Swarovski crystals. Creamy, rich nose, with good red fruits and lots of strawberry freshness, but good freshness and body. Well balanced and flavoursome. 86/100. The wine retails for 50€, but note that 15,000€ buys the real diamond version, where the bottle is reclaimed and the diamonds made into jewellery of your choice. China and Russia are the big markets.
Château de l’Aumérade, Cuvée Dame de Piègros Côtes de Provence Rouge 2009
Shiraz and Grenache spend 8-10 months in two year old barrels. Very fresh herb and cherry nose, approachable, easy to drink fruit with lowish acidity and very easy to enjoy with its abundant fruit. 86-87/100.
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CHÂTEAU DE BERNE
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Château de Berne, Terres de Berne Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
60% Cinsault, 40% Grenache. Main product of the domaine. Reasonably deep colour and quite a vinous nose with some herbs and raspberry fruit, the palate has a bit of tannin and a powerful personality. Good red fruit and freshness. 86-87/100.
Château de Berne, Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
60% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, blended before fermentation. Very vinous, with lots of red fruits and a gravelly, earthy note. Structured palate with orange and lemon, and a firm finish. 87-88/100.
Château de Berne, Grande Cuvée Côtes de Provence Rosé 2009
Dark colour, almost pale red, fermented and aged in oak for 6 months. Six months in second year barrels from white Grand Cuvée. Vanilla and spice, the palate deep and a bit tannic, but perhaps the freshness of the fruit just being swamped slightly by the oak – tuning that back would be better. 21 Euros. 86/100.
Château de Berne, Côtes de Provence Blanc 2009
Nine months in oak, one third new. 70% Semillon and Rolle. Lots of rich hazelnut and vanilla oak, with grapefruit and lemon rind and a light waxiness. Little hints of fig. Full bodied and rich in texture, with a pithy acidity at its core and a fat lemony mid palate. Maybe slightly high in alcohol, but a confident, interesting wine. 89/100.
Château de Berne, Côtes de Provence Rouge 2009
Cabernet and Syrah, 50/50, barrique aged, from the coolest vineyards. Lovely, succulent and pure black fruit nose of cassis and deep cherry lusciousness. Oak is cedary and deeply meshed with the fruit. Small earthy spice notes. Nice palate with plenty of fruit too, with a chicory edge of bittersweet chocolate and plum skin grip and acidity. A big, plush wine but I like this. 90/100.
Château de Berne, Côtes de Provence Rouge 2007
95% Syrah. Smooth, silky texture and a really plummy, quite jammy perhaps a little hint of lavender. Background earthy hints. The palate has a lot of silky texture, the balance is good, though the alcohol and spice certainly gives this a big structure and personality. 88-89/100.
Château de Berne, Savannah 2010
Interesting wine from Alicante Bouschet, sold only at the winery. Deep chocolaty, cherry and fig nose, the palate has a lovely off-dry sweetness, with a creamy cherry liqueur twist, more bittersweet dark chocolate and a fresh finish. Delicious. 88/100.
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SOME TOP PROVENCE ESTATES
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Rosé
Château d’Esclans, Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
Nice spices and a touch of cream and vanilla, with quite a rich palate and luscious mouth-feel. Quite a full and enveloping style. 88/100.
Château Minuty, Prestige Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
Delicious grapefruit and passionfruit depth, with huge juiciness and passionfruity, Sauvignon Blanc-like punch. Lovely freshness and length. Deliciously pungent. 90/100.
Domaine de Saint Lucie, MiP Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
Lots of berries and apricot peachiness, quite a full, creamy palate with lots of lime blossom aromas and easy drinking pleasure. 88/100.
Domaine des Diables, Sainte Victoire Rosé2010
Quite a deep peachy colour, with plenty of peach and raspberry aromas. The palate has lots of juicy, upfront fruit. Modern and delicious style. 88/100.
Château les Valentines, Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
From an estate that neighbours Domaines Ott. More yeasty and mineral nose, a bit of oatmeal and dry redcurrant and raspberry fruit. The palate is dry and structured with a mineral complexity and still real juiciness. 89/100. Château d’Esclans, Les Clans Côtes de Provence Rosé 2009
An oaked style and very nice too with delicate spice and vanilla. The palate beneath has delicious apricot and peach sweetness, the oak adding more roundness and sweetness, but a beautifully fresh finish. 90/100.
Red
Château La Mascaronne, Côtes de Provence Rouge 2005
Big, ripe and fruity nose, lots of earthiness and touches of damp undergrowth. The palate has a freshness and plenty of vanilla and spicy berry compote. 88/100.
Domaine du Jas d’Esclans, Foudre Côtes de Provence Rouge 2007
A Cru Classé, organic estate. Slightly reduced, slightly rubbery nose perhaps, but vanilla and sweet earth and an autumnal berry fruit. Long and supple with a great deal of fruit sweetness into a long spicy finish. 88/100.
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MAÎTRES VIGNERONS
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Saint Roch de Vignes, Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
140,000 bottles of this blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah are produced, and it is in the UK via Majestic. Quite a deep colour, with a fairly neutral nose, the palate dry and slightly acidic, with some good red fruit coming through. 84/100.
Carte Noir, Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
This release is 80% Grenache and is much more elegant and fresh, with some floral and grapefruit peel aromas, a touch of spice. The palate has a big, lemony, juicy character and mouth-watering freshness. 87/100.
Pampellone, Côtes de Provence Rosé 2010
All the Provencal varieties plus some Cabernet Sauvignon in this gentle, rose-hip and redcurrant scented wine. The palate has that real grapefruity juiciness again, with some richness and body and a creamy texture. From a sandy soil it has some spice and a little gravely note. 89/100.
Carte Noire, Côtes de Provence Rouge 2007
Around 15% of production is red, this wine vinified in steel, a blend of Grenache and Syrah. Pleasantly fruity and rich on the nose with plum and blackberry. The palate has a slightly raw edge to the tannins, but has good acidity and freshness, the dry fruit persisting into the finish. 85/100
Pampellone, Côtes de Provence Rouge 2007
Around 30% is barrel aged in French oak and a touch of American oak. The blend is Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvèdre and Carignan. Meaty and bloody nose, with tobacco, spices and leather. Rustic, but attractive. The palate has that meaty, rich concentration, with robust berry fruit and. Sour cherry acidity. A big, chewy mouthful, but authentic and savoury. 88/100.
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