Certified-organic Bandol rosé led by Mourvèdre from steep, fossil-rich terraces; brief skin contact, cool fermentation and short lees ageing give precision and saline freshness.
The delicate colour is extracted by macerating the juice on the skins for a few hours before a slow pressing follows. The grapes are crushed and macerated for a few hours, the temperature is controlled (16C) during fermentation in stainless steel, and the wine is aged on fine lees for a few months only. Top quality Bandol Rose and not just for summer drinking.
Notes on the producer
Located up a tortuous road half-way between Le Plan du Castellet and Sainte Anne d'Evenos, at the bottom of the Gros Cerveau massif, the name of Val d'Arenc comes from the Latin word 'arena' referring to the local sand, and the nearby quarries exploiting it. Surrounded by olive and cypress trees, the vines are on several levels of steep (30%) west and east-facing terraces where the sandy soils weather out many fossils. Since taking over, Gérald has converted the vineyards to organic and favoured mourvèdre over grenache producing a rosé with much more finesse and elegance than many in the appellation.
