Now that summer is here, rosé wines will become even more interesting, but what about the rosé wine from Provence vintage 2024?
What was the important weather like in 2024?
The last three vintages have had their problems with the weather and more, the 2021 vintage was affected by frost and in some places forest fire. The two subsequent very warm vintages were extremely dry (2022) and dry (2023) respectively, which gave grapes with high concentration but at the same time with the risk of the acidity being too low, which is important for rosé wine.
The weather in 2024 in Provence started with heavy rainfall in March, a whopping 262 mm during the month! So, the water reservoirs, both those in the ground and those in ponds, were filled up, overall 2024 was a relatively rainy year. Unfortunately, late frosts came in mid-April and affected almost all of Provence, with only the coastal vineyards surviving thanks to the warmth from the Mediterranean. To make things even more difficult for the winegrower, hail, up to 3 cm in size, hit the inner parts of Var the hardest a month later, just during the sensitive flowering phase.
During the months of July and August, which are so important for grape ripening, temperatures were high. From mid-July to mid-August, the temperature was consistently above 35 degrees, so some started harvesting as early as August 14. For the more northern areas with a later harvest start, it was important to get the harvest in before the thunderstorms at the beginning of September arrived.
Tasted rosé wines from Provence
We had a great opportunity to taste the 2024 vintage when Maison des Vins Côtes de Provence in Les Arcs earlier this spring held a rosé tasting where they had selected fifteen wines, we liked seven of these and they got to go with us in the car to Sweden. Then we supplemented in Provence with some wines that usually hold a good class, another one from Château Rouët, one from Château Paquette and two from Domaine Gavoty. Since these wines are not so easy to get hold of outside of Provence, we also supplemented with two wines from our Swedish Systembolag, Collavery from the good cooperative Quatre Tours and the international mega-seller Minuty M.
So, what was the conclusion about vintage 2024?
The Provençal rosé wine vintage 2024 is very good with a fresh aromatic aroma and many wines have a good concentration/body which means that the first taste impression is a feeling of fruity sweetness even though the wine is completely dry. At the same time, the acidity level is good so that the wines have the freshness typical of Provence. Most wines also have a good and fresh aftertaste.
The colour
The most important purchasing criterion for rosé wine in France is the colour, the lighter the better it is considered. A pale wine indicates a very short maceration, i.e. leaching of colour and flavours from the skins, during the pressing of the grapes. More colour indicates a longer time in the grape press or perhaps even an additional maceration in tank.
As can be seen from the picture, most of the wines have the typical light peach/melon colour. The wine with the strongest colour is the second wine in the second row, from Domaine St Come, which is a producer that also produces Bandol wines and where the wines usually macerate for a longer time, in addition, the wine has a high proportion of the Mourvèdre grape which also gives more colour.
The palest wine is Minuty M, which is a négociant wine, meaning it is produced from purchased grapes and where production is estimated to be around 8 million bottles per year.
Tasting comments
Further down, for those interested, there is some brief information and notes about the wines tasted, the wines are listed in order of price. (1€ = 11 SEK). The scale used for the points is 0-20P.
Value for money:
The most affordable all-round wines are the Esterelle wine and Cuvee Grand Classique.
Best wine:
Unfortunately, the price comes with the quality. The best wine is Clarendon followed by Belle Poule, Cuvee Grand Classique, Angelico and Ikon.
Wine with food:
The first four wines are more suitable as aperitif wines and with lighter dishes. From wine no. 5, Cuvee Grand Classique, the wines, with one exception, can withstand slightly stronger dishes and the more expensive the wine and more body, the more the wines can withstand. The exception is wine no. 6, Gold, which we found to be too sweet.
1. Esterelle Rosé, €9.6, 13P
(Château du Rouët, Côtes de Provence, Alcohol: 13% Grenache 50%, Cinsault 40%, Tibouren 10%)
A fruity, aromatic aroma with peach, strawberry, and a touch of sweetness. Good acidity and with fruity sweetness in the attack in the mouth. Medium berry aftertaste. A good standard Côtes de Provence rosé.
2. Domaine de Collavery, 110 SEK (10 €), 12.5P
(Quatre Tours, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, Alcohol: 12.5% Grenache and others)
A berry aroma with apricot, red fruit, spicy like ginger/nutmeg. Slightly lighter body, fruity taste. Aftertaste where the freshness disappears after a while, a hint of tannins.
3. Domaine des Myrtes Prestige, €10.2, 12.5P
(Domaine des Myrtes, Côtes de Provence la Londe, Alcohol: 13.5% Cinsault 55%, Grenache 45%)
Fresh, fruity aroma with yellow and red fruit, a little sharp “spiciness”. Good acidity and with fruity sweetness in the attack in the mouth. Good length on the fruity aftertaste.
4. Le Songe, €10.3, 12P
(Domaine le Songe Don Bosco, Côtes de Provence, Alcohol: 13% Grenache 60%, Mourvèdre 20%, Tibouren 20%)
Rounder, floral scent with apricot, exotic fruit. Slightly lower acidity and with fruity sweetness in the attack in the mouth. Aftertaste that turns into dryness.
5. Cuvee Grand Classique Rosé, €11.3, 13.5P
(Domaine Gavoty, Côtes de Provence, Alcohol: 13% Cinsault 60%, Grenache 30%, Syrah 10%. First vintage with Syrah.)
Round, fruity, and spicy aroma with fruity sweetness, peach, strawberry, and roses. Good body, slightly lower acidity and with fruity sweetness in the attack in the mouth and with some creaminess. Medium-long finish with berries and a hint of tannins.
6. Gold, €13.3, 12.5P
(Maitres Vignerons de la Presqu’île de Saint-Tropez, Côtes de Provence, Alcohol: 13% Grenache 89%, Cinsault 11%)
Not very fresh scent, strawberry, apricot. Lots of fruit sweetness where the fruit stays in the aftertaste, too sweet for food? Minus for the sweetness.
7. Belle Poule Rosé, €13.95, 13.5+P
(Château du Rouët , Côtes de Provence Frejus, Alcohol: 13% Grenache 30%, Syrah 40%, Tibouren 30%. First vintage as the sub-appellation Frejus and thus also a large proportion of the Tibouren grape)
Fruity and spicy scent – mint, peach, and some dark berries. Good body, slightly lower acidity and with fruit sweetness in the attack in the mouth and with some creaminess. Medium-long berry aftertaste, slight tannins.
8. Château de Beaumel Prestige, €14.5, 12P
(Château de Beaumel, Côtes de Provence, Alcohol: 12.5% Mourvèdre 70%, Grenache 30%)
Faint scent with a little candy, red fruits. Good body, lower acidity and with fruity sweetness in the attack in the mouth. Slightly short aftertaste with some tannins, minus for the candy aroma.
9. Château de Pourcieux, €15.1, 13P
(Château de Pourcieux, Côtes de Provence Saint Victoire, Alcohol: 12% Syrah 60%, Grenache 30%, Cinsault 10%)
Berry aroma with strawberry, rhubarb, and white pepper. Full-bodied, lower acidity and with fruity sweetness in the attack in the mouth. Medium-long berry aftertaste, could have had a little more acidity.
10. Domaine Saint Come Rosé, €15.5, 13P
(Domaine Saint Come, Côtes de Provence, Alcohol: 14% Mourvèdre 60%, Grenache 30%, Cinsault 10%)
Fresh and berry aroma with strawberry and a bergamot spice. Fruity taste with good acidity. Medium-long aftertaste with a hint of saltiness.
11. Minuty M, 179 SEK (16.3 €), 11.5P
(Château Minuty, Côtes de Provence, Alcohol: 13% Grenache 50%, Cinsault 20%, Syrah 20%)
Berry, slightly musty*) scent with strawberries and peach. Berry taste and medium-long aftertaste that is also not that fresh. *) With a little good will, the aroma can, as many writers do, be called herbaceous.
12. Angelico, €16.8, 13.5P
(Château Paquette, Côtes de Provence Frejus, Alcohol: 13% Grenache 54%, Tibouren 24%, Mourvèdre 22%)
Round and spicy aroma with anise, strawberry, and orange. Slightly higher acidity gives a fresh and berry taste. Medium to long berry aftertaste, slightly salty.
13. Ikon, €17.6, 13.5P
(Ikon, Côtes de Provence, Alcohol: 13% Grenache 60%, Cinsault 30%, Rolle 10%)
Round and berry scent with strawberry and peach, some spiciness. Good acidity and good body give a fresh berry taste. Medium to long berry aftertaste.
14. Cuvee Clarendon Rosé, €18, 14P
(Domaine Gavoty, Côtes de Provence, Alcohol: 13% Grenache 45%, Cinsault 40%, Syrah 15%. First vintage with Syrah.)
Round, berry-like complex aroma with strawberry, peach, and some spiciness. Full-bodied with slightly higher acidity. Round taste with fruity sweetness. Long aftertaste with some tannins. Distinctive rosé wine that goes well with food.
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Provence expert Göran Boman, Author of the books ” Provence – Vita, röda och även roséviner” and “The Wines of Provence – Tricolour”. Easiest to buy is via sending an e-mail to me: provencebook@gmboman.se
