Winemaker Notes
Figuière aims for tight wines that express the unique terroir of coastal Provence. Magali Rosé is a medium-bodied rosé with aromas and flavors of strawberries, orange peel and white flowers. The wine shows bright and refreshing acidity and salty minerality thanks to the influence of the nearby Mediterranean Sea. The refreshing character of Provençal rosé with its bright acidity and moderate level of alcohol make it the ideal partner to the simply prepared cuisine of the Mediterranean. Serve this wine with crudités and anchovy sauce, marinated red bell peppers and a crudo of sea bass with lemon and peppercorn.
Blend: 20% Cinsault, 20% Grenache, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 13% Mourvèdre, 2% Rolle
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
Limpid orange-pink. Displays aromas of fresh red berries and citrus fruits, along with spice and floral notes that build with air. Juicy and lithe on the palate, offering juicy strawberry and tangerine flavors that spread out steadily through the back half. Clings nicely on the lively finish, which features a deeper suggestion of white peach.
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.
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.