Description
Château Simone Palette Blanc is a unique golden wine from Provence, offering floral and fruity notes of supreme elegance. It displays richness, power and depth, held in check by a well-balanced structure and a stony texture. Gradually taking on an old-gold hue whilst retaining its delicate yet powerful bouquet, this Château Simone Blanc has exceptional ageing potential.
Palette Appellation
The ‘Palette’ Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée is situated in the heart of Provence, just a few kilometres east of Aix-en-Provence. The vineyard covers some fifty hectares, strictly demarcated on soils of scree derived from Langesse limestone. It is mainly spread across hillsides facing the famous Sainte Victoire mountain and benefits from a unique microclimate. The appellation covers white, red and rosé wines. The main grape varieties are: Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Bourboulenc for the whites, and Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault for the reds and rosés. Harvesting is done by hand and vinification must take place within the defined area. The classification as AOC Palette by the decree of 28 April 1948 follows on from the INAO’s recognition of the ‘Château Simone’ AOC, obtained by Jean ROUGIER on 21 July 1946.
In the vineyard, in the cellar
Château Simone’s Palette white cuvée in detail:
- Appellation: AOP Palette white
- Vineyard: On north-facing hillsides, limestone scree soils.
- Average age: Over 50 years (some plots are over a century old).
- Grape varieties: Clairette 80%, Grenache Blanc 10%, Bourboulenc 5%, Ugni Blanc 3%, Muscat Blanc 2%.
- Harvest: Carried out exclusively by hand, at full ripeness, with sorting of the grapes.
- Vinification: Light crushing. Racking and pressing in vertical hydraulic presses. Manual racking and light settling.
- Ageing & maturation: Aged in small oak casks for 18 months, including 6 months on fine lees, followed by maturation in barrels for one year before bottling.
For further information, visit the Château Simone page.
What to eat with a Château Simone Palette white?
Château Simone white pairs well with:
- courgette flower fritters
- langoustine ravioli
- cod brandade
- squid with garlic and parsley
- poultry
- white meat
- fish in sauce
- baked Camembert
- a Rocamadour.
