Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesProduced from organic grapes, this wine has a soft, ripe texture that gives it immediate appeal. It is rich with red-berry flavors and orange-peel acidity held together by the peppery texture. Drink now. Chambers & Chambers.
A certified-organic blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Mourvèdre from estate-grown fruit, the 2019 Cotes de Provence Rose de Leoube hints at crushed stone and passion fruit, then settles down to deliver a savory mix of dried spices layered over melon and citrus. This medium-bodied wine shows remarkable complexity in its genre, with those spice notes recurring on the lingering, silky-textured finish.
Lifted and bright, with hints of strawberry, peach and floral aromas, then to a palate of heady herb and plush stone fruit.
The Leoube estate was bought by the current owners in 1997. Seduced by Leoube's history and beauty, they set out to make wines with character that were true to their terroir, while remaining respectful of nature. As the founders of Daylesford Organic – one of the UK's most sustainable farms – the owners are passionate about environmentally friendly farming and wished to bring this natural approach to Leoube.
Cotes de Provence is an extensive but valuable appellation that includes vineyards bordering the main Provencal appellations. Its sites vary from subalpine hills, which receive the cooling effects of the mountains to the north, to the coastal St-Tropez, a region mainly influenced by the warm Mediterranean sunshine.
Here the focus is on quality rosé, as it defines four fifths of the region’s wines. Following in the rosé footsteps, a lot of new effort is going into the region’s red production as well. A new generation has turned its focus on high quality Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Carignan. Cotes de Provence white wines, which represent a miniscule part of the region as far as volume, are nonetheless worthy of consideration and can include any combination of Clairette, Semillon, Ugni Blanc and Vermentino.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.