Ah, Provence! The name conjures up visions of lavender, sunflowers, olive trees, and wine – lots of wine – white, red and, of course, rosé with 88% of the region’s production being Rosé! This historic region sits along the Mediterranean coast of France, bordered by the Rhone River to the west and the Côte d’Azur on the east. Physically, it’s only about 150 miles long and 100 miles north to south but its impact is profound. Wine has been made here for over 2600 years, making Provence the oldest wine producing region of France. It is also the only place to focus on rosé and is home to the only research institute dedicated to the style.
The characteristic aromas and structure of the Estandon wines are derived partly from primary slate soils, which are free-draining and stony. Sited primarily in the foothills of the Massif des Maures on sunny hillside slopes the shallow, schist and silty soils of the vineyards mean the vines produce a crop of delicately flavoured grapes.
Harvested at night to ensure the grapes are as cold as possible and minimise any oxidation they are left on skins for a short time prior to gentle pressing. A slow, cool fermentation follows in order to retain the delicate fruit flavours and characteristics of the individual varieties. Once fermentation is complete the wine is carefully settled in cool stainless steel tanks, removed from yeast lees and bottled.
Cepage: Cinsault, grenache and syrah.
Eye: Pale salmon pink grapefruit colour.
Nose: Fresh aromas of peaches and pears, strawberry and lychee. Effusively fresh, fruity and dry on the finish.
