Château des Ferrages Mon Plaisir Sainte-Victoire Rosé 2021 (Provence) - Wine Review

After enjoying the excellent 2020 Château des Ferrages Mon Plaisir Sainte-Victoire Rosé in Spring of last year when it made its debut at the LCBO, tonight's dry rosé wine review is the latest vintage of this terrific wine that comes to the LCBO this weekend in the September 24, 2022 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

It is produced by Château des Ferrages, a domain cherry-picked by Mathilde Chapoutier Selection in 2016 that is located in the village of Pourcieux, halfway between Aix-en-Provence and Saint-Maximin, in the prime, lowland plots of the Sainte-Victoire appellation. Previously, Château des Ferrages was owned winemaker Jose Garcia. His family had been running the 30 hectare domain for three generations, making primarily rosé wines since 1980. Today, Château des Ferrages is in the hands of legendary Rhône wine estate Maison M. Chapoutier and produces wines using the principles of biodynamic farming.

This dry rosé is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Rolle (aka Vermentino) that was grown on shallow, well-draining, clay-limestone soils with varying amounts of sand. The parcels of grapes come from the villages of Pourcieux and Pourrières, at the feet of Mount Aurélien and Mount Sainte-Victoire, where the climate is Mediterranean. Harvest was carried out at night to preserve freshness and aromas. At the winery, the grapes were direct-pressed and underwent stabulation on fine lees. After temperature-controlled fermentation, the wine was aged for a short period in stainless steel vats.

2021 was a tough vintage in Provence with frost, fire, and hail all coming in to play, and Grenache taking the hardest hit. Yields were down on average of 30% and the quality of wines will vary depending on how hard the winegrower was affected by the weather, along with the competence of the winemaker to handle this difficult vintage. Given the name behind this wine, I fully expect very good results. Let's see how this 2021 rosé from Provence is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DES FERRAGES MON PLAISIR SAINTE-VICTOIRE ROSÉ 2021 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#19834) (XD) - $24.95
Blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle. The enticing, medium+ intensity nose offers a lovely, complex mix of grapefruit, melon, orange, white peach, citrus, honeysuckle, and herbal aromas with an underlying minerality. It's medium+ bodied on the dry, ripe palate with appealing grapefruit, floral, white peach, melon, and citrus flavours that taper to herbal and mineral on the juicy mid-palate. Nicely balanced throughout with fresh acidity. Leesy mineral notes linger on the long, crisp finish. Recommended buy! Score: 90+ pts

Other lovely wines by Château des Ferrages can be ordered through their Agent - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Château des Ferrages Mon Plaisir Sainte-Victoire Rosé 2020 (Provence) - Wine Review

For National Rosé Day, which is the second Saturday in June every year and coming up in a couple of days, tonight's wine review is a lovely dry rosé from Provence. This dry rosé wine is a new arrival to the LCBO and will be on shelves across Ontario as part of the June 12, 2021 LCBO VINTAGES Release.

Château des Ferrages is located in the village of Pourcieux, between Aix-en-Provence and Saint-Maximin in the lowland of Sainte-Victoire. Château des Ferrages was owned by winemaker Jose Garcia, whose family had been running the 30 hectare estate for three generations and making wines, primarily rosé, since 1980. In 2016, Château des Ferrages was cherry-picked by Mathilde Chapoutier Selection and acquired by legendary Rhône wine estate Maison M. Chapoutier. Two Sélections Parcellaires have emerged from these lands and apply biodynamic farming principles.

This blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle (aka Vermentino) was grown on shallow, well-draining clay-limestone soils with varying amounts of sand. The parcels are located in the villages of Pourcieux and Pourrières, at the feet of Mount Aurélien and Mount Sainte-Victoire, respectively, which have a Mediterranean climate. The grapes were machine harvested at night to preserve freshness and aromas. It was produced by using the direct press method, then aged on fine lees in stainless steel vats. Let's see how this rosé is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DES FERRAGES MON PLAISIR SAINTE-VICTOIRE ROSÉ 2020 - AC Côtes de Provence, France (#19834) (XD) - $22.95
This lovely dry rosé is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle (aka Vermentino) that has a medium+ intensity nose offering lovely grapefruit, white floral, red berry, strawberry, and citrus aromas with mineral undertones. The medium-full bodied, concentrated palate is dry and complex with flavours of floral, grapefruit, orange rind, citrus, and mineral with hints of white peach. It has balanced acidity and a lick of saline on the mid-palate, while the long finish is dry, crisp, and minerally. Enjoy this recommended buy nicely chilled with hearty fish or poultry. Score: 91 pts

Other lovely wines from Château des Ferrages can be ordered through their Agent who recently launched their new website - Connexion Oenophilia.

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Château de la Négly La Natice 2016 (Midi) - Rosé Wine Review

National Rosé Day is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of June, and this year it falls on June 10th. Tonight's wine to celebrate National Rosé Day is this delicious dry rosé from the Languedoc in France.

Château de la Negly is the producer of tonight's wine review and is located in the Languedoc, overlooking the Mediterranean, in the massif of La Clape. This privileged geographical location has a unique synergy of elements taking place: stroked by sea spray, buffeted between the Tramontane (wind) and the sea wind, and the land is bathed by the Mediterranean sun which warms up the berries. The terroir in this area is rich in alluvium. The Château has been around since the 18th century and is currently managed by the Paux-Rosset family with the assistance of consultant oenologist, Claude Gros.

This rosé wine will be available at the LCBO as part of the upcoming June 24 VINTAGES Release. A full wine review of this wine is posted below.

Share your special rosé experience on social media by using the hashtag #NationalRoséDay. What's in your glass today?

Tasting Note:

CHÂTEAU DE LA NÉGLY LA NATICE 2016 - AP Languedoc, Midi, France (#492199) (XD) - $23.95
Made using the saignée method and consisting of 70% Mourvèdre, and rest equal parts Syrah and Cinsault. Enclosed using a glass stopper. Clean, medium-high intensity aromatics offer red currant, strawberry, red cherry, orange blossom and banana notes that echo on the palate, plus some watermelon flavours. It's medium-bodied and dry with crisp, refreshing acids. Some herbally notes arrive as it warms up in the glass. Finish length is very good with hints of earthy minerality. Score: 90 pts

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