Winemaker Notes
Domaine Mirabeau, founded in 2010 by Stephen and Jeany Cronk, is one of the best-selling and critically acclaimed Provencal rosés in the world. Lead winemaker Nathalie Longefay was born into a winemaking family in Beaujolais. She moved south in 2006 to pursue her interest in wines of Provence, particularly rosé. Nathalie studied Viticulture-Œnologie in Toulouse and subsequently worked in Australia and around France. Considered to be one of the best at her craft, Nathalie has relentless focus and an obsessive attention to detail. She keeps a roving eye on all aspects of winemaking and is constantly looking for improvements, no matter how small.
The estate is a picturesque 25 HA gem in the countryside of Saint-Tropez producing wines of distinction for great restaurants, retailers and connoisseurs around the globe. Domaine Mirabeau falls within the newly created subregion within the Côtes de Provence AOC, Notre Dame des Anges. The terroir covers 3,900 hectares of grapevines interwoven within the landscape of umbrella pines, cork oak trees and chestnut groves forming the Plaine des Maures National Nature Reserve, an ecosystem rich in fauna and flora. The 20-hectare estate includes 14 hectares of vines (principally grenache, cinsault and rolle) and enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot summers, bright sunlight and a prevailing easterly wind. Unlike the rest of the region, which is dominated by low, soft-leaved ‘garrigue’ scrubland, this part of Provence is noticeably different with evergreen ‘maquis’ scrubland and stony terrain formed from pink sandstone and sandy soils. With a large array of wildlife– everything from llamas to beehives – Mirabeau is proud to focus on biodiversity on their estate.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
More than just a European vacation hotspot and rosé capital of the world, Provence, in southeastern France, is a coastal appellation producing interesting wines of all colors. The warm, breezy Mediterranean climate is ideal for grape growing and the diverse terrain and soil types allow for a variety of wine styles within the region. Adjacent to the Rhône Valley, Provence shares some characteristics with this northwestern neighbor—namely, the fierce mistral wind and the plentiful wild herbs (such as rosemary, lavender, juniper and thyme) often referred to as garrigue. The largest appellation here is Côtes de Provence, followed by Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence.
Provence is internationally acclaimed for dry, refreshing, pale-hued rosé wines, which make up the vast majority of the region’s production. These are typically blends, often dominated by Mourvèdre and supplemented by Grenache, Cinsault, Tibouren and other varieties.
A small amount of full-bodied, herbal white wine is made here—particularly from the Cassis appellation, of Clairette and Marsanne. Other white varieties used throughout Provence include Roussane, Sémillon, Vermentino (known locally as Rolle) and Ugni Blanc.
Perhaps the most interesting wines of the region, however, are the red wines of Bandol. Predominantly Mourvèdre, these are powerful, structured, and ageworthy wines with lush berry fruit and savory characteristics of earth and spice.