Provence Rosé En Primeur: 2023 L'Oratoire Rosé
One of our favourite moments in the year is when we taste the new vintage of Provence rosé from Domaine Saint Andrieu and offer it to you en primeur, a sign that spring is just around the corner. We tasted samples of the 2023 L'Oratoire this week and it's delicious, so please place your orders now for the summer ahead.
Made by the owners of Château Talbot, L'Oratoire has become a staple wine for many of our customers. The 2023 vintage is amazingly fresh and balanced, with a pale onion skin colour and delicate aromas of cucumber and watermelon. We were in Provence last September during harvest time and it's remarkable how such a crisp, fresh rosé could come from such hot conditions. L'Oratoire has the advantage that the vines are at a higher altitude to some others, on cool north-facing slopes, and on limestone terroir, all of which contributes to the fresh style.
Alongside the 2023, we will be shipping a small amount of the domaine's 2020 Rouge, a wonderful blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in barrels previously used to age Château Talbot. It jumped out of the glass at us when we tasted this week, with vibrant, beautifully delineated fruit and surprisingly fine tannins (presumably polished and refined by those smart Bordeaux barrels). This will make a great summer red, so do add a case or three to your rosé order. L'Oratoire's white wine is also available on special order, please enquire for details.
Please simply e-mail us if you would like to order.
Offered en primeur, landing in the UK in spring 2024.
Producer Profile
Domaine Saint Andrieu, Provence
Domaine Saint Andrieu is in an achingly beautiful setting, in the foothills of the Alps, a few kilometres north of the medieval town of Brignolles (an ancient capital of Provence). This is the heart of the Coteaux Varois En Provence AOC. The limestone soils here give the rosés more structure than is generally found in wines from nearer the coast.
Nancy Bignon-Cordier bought the domaine in 2003, with 30 hectares of vines and olive trees set amongst the larger 600 hectare estate of woodland and garrigue. Cordier and her winemaker Gregior Guibergia (below) bring all the expertise and technical know-how you would expect from the owners of the great Bordeaux names of Châteaux Talbot and Sénéjac.
The winery is gravity-fed and the parcels of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Rolle grapes are vinified in small batches, with an extremely delicate pressing for the rosé; in fact the first 70% of the juice runs freely from the grapes, under their own weight (known as the 'jus de goutte'), with minimal skin contact.
| ROSE | 2023 | Domaine Saint Andrieu - Clos L'Oratoire Rosé | 75cl | £105 per case of 12 | Domaine Saint Andrieu Clos L'Oratoire Rosé 2023 / / 75cl £105 per case of 12 |
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Tasting NotesTank sample. Pale onion skin and copper colour, slight violet at rim. Mid-intensity, delicate, primary aromas, clearly delineated and very pure cucumber, raspberry and a hint of watermelon. Some crushed rock too. Lovely freshness to the fruit character on the palate, which is in excellent balance to the acidity. RKL |
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| ROSE | 2023 | Domaine Saint Andrieu - Clos L'Oratoire Rosé | Magnum | £120 per case of 6 | Domaine Saint Andrieu Clos L'Oratoire Rosé 2023 / / Magnum £120 per case of 6 |
IB | |||||
Tasting NotesTank sample. Pale onion skin and copper colour, slight violet at rim. Mid-intensity, delicate, primary aromas, clearly delineated and very pure cucumber, raspberry and a hint of watermelon. Some crushed rock too. Lovely freshness to the fruit character on the palate, which is in excellent balance to the acidity. RKL |
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