Château du Rouët, `Estérelle` Côtes de Provence

`Estérelle` Côtes de Provence, Château du Rouët, France

75cl Bottle
Alcohol (ABV): 13%

TASTING NOTES

Beautiful pale salmon in colour, this rosé wine from the Côtes de Provence brings aromas of ripe citrus, alpine strawberry and fresh white blossom on the nose. The palate is refreshing, with a good balance of acidity and red berry and citrus flavours, ending in a poised and elegant finish.

PRODUCER

Château du Rouët is now run by the fifth generation of the Savatier family, who have owned it since 1840. The Château was originally known for selling pinewood and cork from their surrounding forest. Vines were planted in 1927, to act as a firebreak to protect the forest, and the first bottled wine of Château du Rouët appeared in 1945. Today, brothers, Martin and Matthieu Savatier run the Château, with Martin looking after the vineyards and Matthieu making the wines.

VINEYARDS

Château du Rouët is situated at the foothills of the Estérel mountain range, which spans the coast of Provence. They own 70 hectares of vines which grow on distinctive red, volcanic rock soil at an altitude of 560 metres. The south-facing vineyards benefit from warm, sunny days and are cooled by the Mistral and sea breezes which add elegance and freshness to the wines. The estate practices la lutte raisonnée, working the soils with organic fertilizers, such as manure.

VINIFICATION

The Estérelle Rosé, made solely from estate grown fruit, is a blend of Grenache, Tibouren, Cinsault and Syrah. The grapes were harvested at night in order to retain the delicate aromas and varieties were kept separate. At the winery, cold maceration was carried out to extract aromas and a little colour. The grapes were then fermented separately in stainless-steel tanks at low temperatures between 14° and 16°C before the wines were blended.