France – Château Miraval «Pink Floyd» Rosé 2013

I live in Provence now, since last august. 
So my search for the uncommon wine couldn’t start anywhere but here, in the only place in the world that has been capable to give an AOC to the pink wine. I am Italian and the pink wine, in my country of origin almost doesn’t exist!

But rosé here is a tradition so … let’s taste the uncommon rosé “par excellence”!

The Vineyard

The “Château Miraval”, is located in the village of Correns in the Var department in the south of France. It is nowadays worldwide known for being the French residence of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie who, with the supervision of the famous wine-maker Marc Perrin produce here their wines.

The overall extension of the domaine is 400 hectares of which 30 hectares on the valley floor are devoted to vines. The château is known for its wines, white wines under the Coteaux Varois appellation and red, white and rosé wine under the Côtes de Provence appellation.

The immense wine cellar of Miraval was built in 1850 by Joseph Lombot, the inventor of reinforced concrete, who owned the nearby domaine of La Celle.

The whole site lies on the remains of a pre Roman settlement. A previous owner, the French jazz pianist Jacques Loussier, installed a recording studio in the château: Sting recorded there, as did the Cranberries and Pink Floyd laid down tracks for The Wall album, released in 1979. Its more recent American owner, Tom Bove, who bought the domaine in 1993 and has modernized its viticulture, which had been producing simple vin de pays.

The Wine

Miraval rosé comes from Chateaus' best parcels (Muriers, Longue, Romarin), as well as from a selection of vineyards close to the village of Correns, in the heart of Provence. The vineyard is cultivated on a terroir of clay and limestone, partially in terraces located at an average of 350 meters.

The climate is cool, with big temperature swings between night and day. In particular, the vintage 2013 has been characterized by a long and dry winter, followed by a spring cold and humid. The result is a poor (in quantity) harvest.

The grapes are harvested exclusively in the morning. Pressurage direct for Cinsault, Grenache and Rolle. The Syrah is vinified separately using the saignee method. Vinification is then conducted in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats (95%) and in barrels (5%) with batonnage.

Tasting Note

Date	11 June 2014
Wine name	MIRAVAL – PINK FLOYD	Vintage	2013
Nation	France	Region	Provence
AOC-DOC	Cotes de Provence	Grape Varieties	Cinsault, Syrah, Rolle, Grenache
Service Temp.	8-10° C	Alcohol	13
Price (in euro)	15

Visual Examination		Taste analysis
Limpidity	Cristal Clear	Body	Full
Color	Soft rosé	Balance	Balanced
Consistency	Quiet consistent	Soft sensations	Dry – Light
Effervescence	//	Hard sensations	Fresh
		Flavors intensity	Quite intense
Olfactory analysis		Flavors	Cherries, wild strawberries
Aroma intensity	Quite intense		Minerals, citrus fruit
Complexity	Quite complex	Finish/Persistence	Quite persistent
Quality	Fine	Overall evaluations
Aromas	White flowers, berries	Development	Ready
		Harmony	Harmonious

Food pairing

On its own as aperitivo or paired with seafood or light salads.

In conclusion, buying a bottle of Miraval you pay the name of the owners and the particular shape of the bottle. But, at the same time, you buy the expertise of Perrin family in making wine and a glass of rosé that smells of freshness and tastes of summer. And Provence.

Official website : www.miraval-provence.com