Winemaker Notes
At first sight, the wine displays a pretty pale pink color with bluish highlights. The nose is expressive and enticing, with ripe vineyard peach layered over a fresh bouquet of white flowers. On the palate, a lively, refreshing attack leads into bright citrus notes and a mouth-watering, orange-candy texture, finishing with fine bitters that add savory lift and structure.
Blend: 35% Cinsault, 35% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Caladoc
With almost 800 years of existence, the Commanderie de Peyrassol is considered a landmark in the history of Provence. More than a winery, the Commanderie has thrived for centuries as a sanctuary for gathering travelers, all the while, holding true to its precious values of hospitality and conviviality.
Located in the foothills of the Massif des Maures, 10 miles from the Mediterranean Sea between Cannes and Marseille, the estate consists of 1,000 hectares, with 95 hectares planted to vineyards cultivated on dry, rocky clay and limestone soils. When Francoise Rigord and her husband managed the estate, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon were planted in addition to the Grenache and Cinsault already growing at the estate. The main white varietals are Rolle and Ugni Blanc, supplemented by Semillon and Clairette. Since Philippe Austruy took ownership of the estate in 2001, Peyrassol has consciously maintained organic practices in full respect of the surrounding environment, aiming for certification in the coming years. No synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides are used in the vineyards. The age of the vines, the rocky terrain, and the hot, dry climate all do their part to severely restrict yields. Consequently, harvests typically average between 25 and 40 hectoliters per hectare depending on the vineyard and grape variety.
Inspired by the values at the origin of the estate: a sense of place, of great energy and centuries old commitment to hospitality, Peyrassol is now, more than ever, synonymous with great wines and celebrated generosity across the world.
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.
A sunny land braced by the influence of the Mediterranean Sea, the South of France extends from the French Riviera in the East to the rugged and mountainous Spanish border in the West. This expansive and stunning region remains the source of France's finest rosé and fortified wines, while the red and white wines continue to gain respect.
Provence, located farthest east, is revered for dry, elegant and quenching rosé wines, which make up the vast majority of the region’s production. These are typically blends of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault, Tibouren and other varieties.
Moving west from the Rhône Valley, spanning the Mediterranean coast to the Pyrenees mountains of Roussillon, Languedoc’s terrain is generally flat coastal plains. Virtually every style of wine is made in Languedoc; most dry wines are blends with varietal choice strongly influenced by the neighboring Rhône Valley.
Bordered by the rugged eastern edge of the Pyrenees Mountains and intense sunshine, Roussillon is largely defined by Spanish influence. The arid, exposed, steep and uneven valleys of the Pyrénées-Orientales zone guarantee that grape yields are low and berries are small and concentrated. While historically recognized for the vins doux naturels of Rivesaltes, Banyuls and Maury, the region’s dry reds are beginning to achieve the notoriety the deserve.
A catchall term for the area surrounding the Languedoc and Roussillon, Pays d’Oc is the most important IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) in France, producing nearly all of France’s wine under the IGP designation.