2021 Chateau Val d’Arenc Bandol Rosé

Vineyard notes

TERROIRS

The grapes hail from bush-pruned vines from westfacing vineyards which create richer, fuller-bodied wines. The soils are composed of sandy marl, marly clay and sandstone bedrock with limestone topsoil.

FARMING

Organic farming since 2015, due to earn certification in 2017. The vineyards are worked gently with a tractor in the winter and spring, and the harvest is done entirely by hand. Over the winter, sheep graze on the flowery cover crop, lending essential nutrients and microbes to the soil. The vineyard team practices de-budding and a green harvest to reduce yields.

VINE AGE

50% of the blend comes from 45 year-old vine on average. 50% from 25 year-old vines.

AVERAGE YIELD

36 hectoliters per hectare.

WINEMAKING

The grapes are rigorously sorted by hand to ensure quality, are separated by varietal, and are then pressed gently in whole clusters. The free-run juice is racked by gravity into stainless steel tanks and left to cold macerate for five hours. The must is then vinified and undergoes a four-week alcoholic fermentation at 62°F. Malolactic fermentation is avoided to preserve the minerality, tension and purity of the grapes. The different varietals are then blended and left to settle for two to three months before fining with diatomaceous earth and a light filtration.

ANNUAL PRODUCTION

~50,000 bottles or 4,2000 cases

Tasting notes

Seductive notes of citrus fruit, white peach, red berries and pink grapefruit offer up a mouthful of succulence on a satiny textured palate. Its fine creamy minerality persists through a long, ample yet refreshing finish.

Technical notes 

Varietal: 80 % Mourvédre, 10 % Grenache, 10 % Cincault

Appellation: Val d'Arenc / Vallon du Canadeau

TA: 4.7 g/L 

RS: 0.4 g/L 

Alcohol: 13.5 % 

Bottlesizes: 0.75, 1.5, 3.0