M de Minuty Rosé 2021

M de Minuty comes entirely from hand harvested grapes grown in the Côtes de Provence, making it perhaps the only major regional wine that is still hand harvested. The source for the majority of the wine is from partners in the highest quality Côtes de Provence vineyards. Minuty’s original estate vineyard in Saint Tropez, and their estate one hour north in the hills of Vidauban also contribute fruit.

As with all their wines, the focus is on working with high quality Grenache grapes that can bring aromatic complexity and gorgeous fruit flavors while offering a seamless and fresh structure.

In regards to their own vineyard holdings, the Minuty family is proud of their strong commitment to sustainable viticulture. They quickly achieved the French government’s High Environmental Value certification for the estate’s biodiversity, farm management to limit inputs, and broader commitment to limiting environmental impact. All their vineyards have long been grown without the use of chemicals.

As with all Minuty wines, fruit is handpicked. Just as important, they time the picking with their pressing, so that when the grapes are picked and brought over to the winery, they immediately go to the press, protected by carbonic gas. Grapes are chilled and alcoholic fermentation takes place at cool temperature and lasts around 3 weeks. There is no malolactic fermentation. Selection and blending are done around the end of November.

The 2021 harvest was one that was overshadowed by extreme and unlikely conditions in Provence. Marked by the consequences of an April frost just as budbreak was underway, the summer heat and regional wildfires kept vignerons at the edge of their seats right up until harvest. Thanks to a typically dry, warm Mediterranean summer, grapes were brought to full maturity with harvest beginning a week early on August 17th. Resulting yields were even greater than 2020, with rosés revealing intense aromas of white peach and grapefruit. The balance in these wines express a great aromatic freshness and a high overall quality.

Light and bright in color. The nose has very intense aromas of orange peels and red currant. The wine in the mouth is smooth with a nice freshness.