A typical Provencal Batisse in the vines...
Dear wine lovers,
Surrounded East and West by Côtes de Provence vineyards and on the highest part of the Var Department are the vines which produce Coteaux Varois.
This recent controlled appellation (1993) has and is still struggling to find its place among the Ocean of Côtes de Provence. But if it has been given a distinctive name, it is not only because some old family histories which has not initially permitted to include this area inside the Côtes de Provence. The main reason comes from terroir, of course. Most of them are colder and - or North oriented which enables to get more natural acidity.
The 3 colors are produced here and the rose is not over predominant. With reds, they are mainly made from Grenache and Syrah - Cinsault in addition. Whites are mainly based on Rolle where this superb grape variety finds here a perfect place to express its best. That's the one I will recommend to drink with some sea bass just cooked with big salt and that you will simply enjoy, once cooked, dipped in an olive oil - lemon juice sauce.
The wines I like here are Château la Calisse, Domaine du Deffends, Château Routas and my preferred is Château Miraval which produces this famous white based on Rolle I was telling you about earlier.
Cheers,
Jean-Marc Espinasse
Any comments, edits are very welcome at [email protected]
This book is also on my kitchen table :
See Coteaux Varois on a French wine map
Update on our vineyard project....
Our business plan has been approved by two banks and we are now sure to close the deal which is scheduled March 19th. So I won't cry even if the vines do, but this is actually normal. We say that "la vigne pleure" when vegetation re-starts at spring time. This year, it is quite early given the warm temperatures we have had this winter.
Last week, I also had my first tractor drive lesson...
