Simone, Palette Rose 2022

Description

Tasting notes

About the Producer

The history of the chateau illustrates the ongoing relationship between the vineyard and a long line of wine growers on an exceptional terroir. Located in the commune of Meyreuil and just four kilometres from Aix en Provence, the old bastide of the Grands Carmes d'Aix monks, now the Chateau Simone, has been in the hands of the Rougier family since 1830. Old documents bear witness to the fact that vines have been cultivated here from time immemorial. The historic reputation of its wines has made Chateau Simone a prime example of the Provencal terroir. Their renown spread and the bottles, with the elegant classical presentation on the original label, found their way to the most prestigious tables and those of the finest gourmets. As the representative of the fourth generation of Rougiers on the domain, he played a leading role in the decisive period when the grand historic terroirs of Vins de France acquired the AOC status. In 1947 he applied for the "Chateau Simone" AOC and on 28 April 1948 he obtained the AOC for the Palette terroir. The ‘Palette’ designation of origin is situated in the heart of the French Provence, a few kilometres east of the town of Aix en Provence. The vineyard covers approximately fifty hectares strictly delimited on soils composed of Langesse limestone. The vine stocks grow essentially on the hillsides facing famous mount Sainte Victoire and enjoy a unique microclimate. The Appellation applies to white, red and rosé wines which main varietals include: Clairette, white Grenache, Bourboulenc for white wines, and Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault for red and rosé. The grapes are handpicked and vinification is necessarily carried out within the delimited area. Terroir Its location on the north-facing slopes of the Montaiguet massif in a natural bowl-shaped formation protected from the winds and crossed by the Arc river give it a special microclimate. It is influenced by the biodiversity of the nearby forest, the humidity coming from the river with its mass of greenery, its exposure and the fact that the force of the winds is broken. The soil consists essentially of limestone scree formed in lakes in the Tertiary Era combined with clays, pebbles and gravel. Vineyard It is a mosaic of plots in a wooded setting. Reconstituted by the Rougier family after the phylloxera crisis, it is of an exceptional average age, some plots are more than 125 years old! The replacement of missing feet has always been rigorously practiced. A very large variety of grape varieties is represented there. Cut into cups and tied on stakes, the vineyard is cultivated with tillage without weed killers or chemical fertilizers. Vinification The grapes are harvested and sorted manually. They are then transported to the cellar in small 40-kg bins. They are sorted a second time before being crushed. The fermentation processes are classic and traditional, using native yeasts. Every effort is made to preserve the integrity and structure of the crop.