Product Description
A CHERISHED CUVEE FROM HISTORIC CHATEAU SIMONE AT A NEW LOW PRICE!
"Calling all Wine Geeks: we have just received this new release from Château Simone! In my opinion, this is the finest wine made in Provence, and for a limited time only, we have an incredible deal of 30% off the price of previous vintages. Last year, we sold this cuvee at $65.99, and this year the Rouge is $43.99. That’s an unbelievable steal for this wine, which never disappoints and only improves with age. Simply put, I just love this wine! Supplies won’t last for long, so don’t miss out on this limited low price!" – Jim Knight, The Wine House (3/27/17)
"A very open, seductive nose of dusty black cherries, garrigue, and cedary spice. The black cherry continues on the palate, with supple, open-knit fruit and a luscious, mouthwatering character. This is very approachable and attractive for a young Simone, similarly structured to the 2010 but less firm and inward. I hate to use the "Burgundian" cliché, but this truly is reminiscent of a Burgundian-style Chateauneuf-du-Pape with a bit of Bandol wildness thrown in." – Clark Boehling, RosenthalWine Merchant (Importer), January 2017
Technical Details
Vineyard: North-facing slopes, limestone scree soil, 50+ year old vines.
Varieties: 45% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsaut, 5% Other (Syrah, Castet, Manosquin, Carignan, various Muscats).
Harvest: Harvested exclusively by hand.
Vinification: Fermentation with native yeasts. Light crushing and destemming, vatting in small tanks with pumping-over, maceration for 15-21 days. Pomace pressed in vertical hydraulic press.
Aging: Small casks for first 8 months, then one year in oak barrels of different ages. Bottled without filtration.
ABOUT CHATEAU SIMONE (IMPORTER’S NOTES)
This historic estate, situated in the hills just south of Aix-en-Provence, has been in the hands of the Rougier family for two centuries and holds a virtual monopoly on the appellation of Palette. I have admired the wines of Château Simone and have followed the evolution of this domaine over the years. Now, twenty-seven years after my initial introduction to the Rougiers, we have been asked to marry our work to theirs. It is our privilege to do so.
Château Simone encompasses twenty hectares of vineyards that sit on limestone soils at elevations between 500 and 750 feet above sea level on the slopes of Montaiguet. The special microclimate of this appellation is influenced by the encircling pine forests, the mass of Mont Sainte-Victoire, and the Arc River. The vineyards were reconstituted after the invasion of phylloxera and many vines are over a century old. The Rougiers maintain the particular vinification methods developed and cherished over many decades. For those of you who are not familiar with these wines, whether rouge, blanc or rosé, we believe you will find them to be compelling and unique. All of the grapes are hand harvested, destemmed, lightly pressed and fermented for 15 to 20 days in small wooden vats with only wild yeast, then put into small foudre to rest on the lees. The white is predominantly Clairette, with small amounts of Grenache Blanc and Ugni Blanc, and a dash of Bourboulenc, Muscat Blanc, Picpoul, Furmint and Sémillon. Fermentation takes place at a relatively warm 68 degrees and aged for one year in 20-30 hl casks then one year in used barrel.
The red from Simone is an elegant yet well-constituted wine of great depth. It is primarily composed of Grenache and Mourvèdre but its special character reflects the presence of a mélange other grape varieties, albeit in small proportion, including Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Castet, Manosquin, Théoulier, Tibouren, Picpoul Noir and Muscat de Hambourg. (The rosé is the exact same blend) Bottled after 18-24 months of aging in foudres and one year or more in aged barrique, it is assembled without filtration ? ) 0.0 ?Ý, ÀûÜ ) ) 2017-03-24 16:13:41.017 umber 67) ) 2017-06-11 11:46:25.470 ad ) ) 10.0 0 , ad ! ! ) ) 0.0 8Ý, ! ûÜ433