Description
Whilst most wine lovers seek out the estate’s white wine, it would be a shame to miss out on this sumptuous red Palette from Château Simone. With a deep ruby colour, the wine offers a highly complex bouquet, floral and fruity with hints of garrigue on the finish. The Grenache grapes, which dominate this cuvée, retain a cool austerity due to their north-facing exposure. The wine is delicately structured, carried by slender tannins of great distinction. Built for ageing, the wine will develop ash-like nuances over the next ten years.
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 scree soils 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
- Appellation: AOP Palette red
- Vineyard: On north-facing hillsides, limestone scree soils.
- Average age: Over 50 years (some plots are over a century old).
- Grape varieties: Grenache 45%, Mourvèdre 30%, Cinsaut 5%, ‘secondary’ varieties 20% including Syrah, Castet, Manosquin, Carignan and various Muscats.
- Harvest: Carried out exclusively by hand, at full ripeness, with sorting of the grapes, fermentation with indigenous yeasts and temperature control.
- Vinification: Light crushing with destemming, fermentation in small vats with pumping over, maceration time 15 to 21 days. Pressing of the pomace using vertical hydraulic presses.
- Ageing & maturation: Exclusively in wood, first in small casks for 8 months, then for one year in oak barrels of varying ages, blended prior to bottling, which is carried out without filtration.
For further information, visit the Château Simone page.
What to eat with a Château Simone Palette Rouge?
- Mezzi Rigatoni pasta with lamb ragù
- green tapenade
- lamb kidneys,
- beef cheeks with olives
- confit of lamb shoulder (7-hour leg of lamb)
- filet mignon with dried fruit
- aubergine and tomato tian.
