The word terroir is purely French, there is no equivalent to translate this term into English. It designates the typology of the soil, the climatological influence and the biodiversity present on this place. This term is consolidated by the practice of biodynamics . In the south of France, as regards the terroir of rosé wines , there is a vast diversity of combinations. As well as the influence of the winds and the sea air which also develops the little extra that makes the difference within an exceptional terroir .

At Château La Soujeole Grand Vin Rosé , AOP Malepère, the estate is located in an ecological entity known to botanists for its plants and shrubs, of varied species, Mediterranean and oceanic. Here, the plurality of the components of the terroir takes on its full meaning.

The soil and its geology on the Great Rosé Wines

The action of Mother Nature tamed

To produce great rosé wines, a vineyard must benefit from optimal climatic conditions. That said, Mother Nature is not so easily tamed. It is she who sets the tone for the quality of the vintage, influencing the cultivation of these exceptional rosé wines. In Languedoc-Roussillon, the sunshine is among the highest in France. This promotes the maturity of grape varieties typical of the South of France, such as red berries such as Mourvèdre , Syrah , Grenache and Cinsault and white berries such as Vermentino and Viognier . The Mediterranean Sea acts as a thermal regulator, activating the early resumption of vegetation in the spring.

But if Mother Nature premeditates periods of drought, the winemaker must face the spread of various complications such as powdery mildew, which can go so far as to destroy the inflorescences and berries of grapes.

A delicate precision elaboration

The obvious particularity of the Grands Vins Rosés is a manual harvest with limited yields in order to produce only grapes with a deep and intense aromatic palette. During the harvest, sorting is rigorous to preserve the berries of optimal quality.

The evolution of aromatic compounds in Great Rosé Wines

In recent years, the quality of the aromatic compounds in rosé wines has continued to improve. In the past, rosé wines were mainly provided with fermentation aromas , with isoamyl acetate marked by aromas of banana and English candy accompanied by ethyl butanoate releasing floral notes . Nowadays, the trend is towards the presence of aromatic compounds from the thiol family such as 3-mercapto-hexanol releasing aromas of citrus, exotic fruits, and rhubarb, associated with its acetate revealing extracts of boxwood and tropical fruits , as well as other compounds that contribute to the complexity of the aromatic bouquet of Grands Vins Rosés .

Innovation in winemaking to enhance elegance

Thus, the art of winemaking carried out within the development of high-end rosé wines is based on the management of the harvest, intervening as little as possible in the winery and cellar. This is why respect for the raw material is obvious in order not to force fermentation, to avoid oenological inputs, while preserving the originality of the terroir and the grape varieties. All while giving time, to time and modernizing the winemaking process to integrate improved winemaking techniques in order to enhance the natural elegance of rosé wines .

It is from this consistency that the Villa du Château La Sauvageonne is produced. This Grand Vin Rosé , voted the best rosé in the world in 2017 and 2018, is the result of a co-fermentation between the Grenache , Vermentino and Viognier grape varieties, followed by a fermentation starting in a vat and ending in a French oak barrel to stir up the smoothness and structure of this Grand Vin.

It is therefore inspired by the fermentation process of white wines that producers of high-end rosé wines produce Grands Vins Rosés.

Tasting: the consecration of Great Wines

Tasting: this is the moment of truth! Of course, with Great Rosé Wines, food and wine pairings are simple. Since rosé accompanies all varieties of dishes and side dishes, both during the aperitif and throughout a meal. However, recognition during its tasting by wine professionals is the moment of consecration. Indeed, although these wines are produced with respect for the environment, the uniqueness of the terroir and a precise and delicate development.

When one of these rosés is voted the best rosé in the world and receives the title of “Master”, it reassures the initiatives taken and the efforts made to produce the best possible and ethical Grands Vins. Gérard Bertrand works in this direction, with regard to the Grand Vin Rosé Clos du Temple , the best rosé wine in the world is born in the cradle of rosé wines.

This distinction is awarded by fine tasters who establish the olfactory analysis, blind, of hundreds of rosé wines. They are on the lookout for the slightest defect and in search of the purest , racy and unvarnished style, revealing with virtuoso the personality of the terroir. The mentions, the citations in specialized magazines and the notes of wine professionals are rewards testifying to the precision work carried out in the vineyards and in the cellar.