Château Minuty Côtes de Provence Prestige Rosé 2022
Château Minuty is the global leader in Côtes de Provence rosé, and beyond that it can be argued is the most important estate in the history of Provence rosé. The Saint-Tropez based, family owned estate has been, since its founding, one of the quality leaders for the region. Minuty then became one of the most visible producers in the second half of the 20th century, a result of quality production and commercial foresight when no one in the region could imagine the global phenomenon Provence rosé would become. And then in the last two decades, Minuty defined the vision for and led the unbelievable growth in Provence rosé around the globe. All this achieved by a family estate now in its third generation, led by two brothers overseeing all the vineyard work, winemaking and sales.
Tasting notes
Pale with pomelo highlights. The nose is precise and delicate with notes of flowers and melon. In the mouth, the wine is powerful and well balanced, with notes of citrus and red fruits. It is the most structured and expressive of all the Minuty wines. The whole is underlined by a pleasant minerality. Pair this wine alongside veal carpaccio, grilled fish, stuffed vegetables, & oriental cuisine.
Vintage | 2022 |
Varietal Composition | Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Tibouren |
Appellation | Côtes de Provence |
Alcohol | 12.50% |
Volume | 750 ml |
Country of Origin | FRANCE |
State of Origin | N/A |
Artificially Carbonated | No |
Sparkling Wine | No |
A wine with structure as well as ripe, generous red fruits, this is both crisp and smoothly textured. Acidity, a touch of tannin and spice join fruitiness in a wine that could age. Drink from late 2021. - Wine Enthusiast, 90 pts
Prestige comes primarily from two Minuty estate vineyards, the first the original estate vineyard in Saint-Tropez, and the second an outstanding estate an hour north called Chateau Verez that they purchased several years ago.
The Saint-Tropez vineyard lies a half mile from the ocean and the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. The quality of this location has always been evident, as the estate was one of the original 18 classified growths in Provence. The vineyard is heavily influenced by the marine proximity, with the afternoon winds bringing dryness and cool air. The mica schist soils contribute a notable minerality and are oriented to the southwest, allowing for full ripeness throughout the property.
The Chateau Verez property is located in the hills of Vidauban, in the heart of the Massif des Maures. The vines average 25 years of age, and there is a continental rather than maritime influence in this area. The Matton family knew the property well because their family owned the neighboring estate for well over a hundred years.
In addition to the trademark Grenache, which the family have been pioneers in the region for emphasizing, Prestige has an important proportion of Tibouren, a local grape with distinct powerful structure and saline flavors. Other grapes grown for Prestige typically include Cinsault and Syrah.
Finally, the Minuty family is proud of their strong commitment to sustainable viticulture. They quickly achieved the French government’s High Environmental Value certification for the estate’s biodiversity, farm management to limit inputs, and broader commitment to limiting environmental impact. All their vineyards have long been grown without the use of chemicals.