Chateau Simone
Provence, France

$66.99 on 3+
$71.99 reg

The red Palette from Chateau Simone is a field blend of most of the varieties you see in the South of France (Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Morvedre). Deep ruby-hued, the rouge is very consistent vintage to vintage. Never over-done, the wine shows perfect balance, density and freshness. The aroma and palate show excellent complexity, robust with red and dark red fruits, with the textbook garrigue notes from the wild scrub that defines that Provence landscape. Structure in their youth, the tension from the tannin relax at about age 5-6 in bottle and can age for 20 years easy.

Those of you who know Simone realize that the red, a tenacious but ultimately elegant wine, is an equal, rather than dominant, partner to the striking rosé and the sublime white. Like the rosé, it is a blend primarily of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault but there are pockets of old-growth vines of Syrah, Manosquin, Castet, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon and Muscat Noir that season the vineyards and add to the stunning complexity of these wines. The influence of Mont Sainte Victoire, its surface covered in rich pine forest, is apparent in the flavors and aromas of the red wine of Simone that only deepen with time.

Vineyard
On slopes with northern exposure, calcareous scree soils. Age average More than 50 years. Traditional wine-growing no weed killers.

Varieties
Grenache 45%, mourvèdre 30%, cinsaut 5%, "secondary" grape variety 20% including syrah, castet, manosquin, carignan, various muscatel.

Harvest
Harvested exclusively by hand, when the grapes are fully mature, then sorted, fermentation with native yeasts and temperature control.

Vinification
Light crushing and destemming, vatting in small tanks with pumping-over, maceration for 15 to 21 days. Pomace pressed in vertical hydraulic presses.

Maturation
Wood storage only, first in small casks for 8 months, then for one year in oak barrels of different ages, blending for bottling conducted without filtration.