Tasting Notes
I have 3 bottles left of the lovely 2019 vintage which scored 92 Parker Points; just email to let me know if you would like these as part of your order. Chance to spot if you can tell the difference between the two vintages!
This is pure Provence rosé, a blend of Grenache 35%, Cinsaut 35%, Syrah 20% and Vermentino 10%. As you might expect from Côtes de Provence this wine is a beautiful very pale salmon colour but whilst it looks quite delicate, the aromas and flavours are fairly intense - stone fruits including mild peach and pear, citrus, grapefruit with some white raspberry and redcurrant tones with floral and mineral notes. The wine is crisp, very refreshing and round in the mouth with a long floral and stony dry finish. Named Quat' Saisons or Four Seasons, this is a rosé for drinking all year round.
Château La Mascaronne was sold in 2019 to second growth Bordeaux estate, Cos d’Estournel, who were convinced by the potential of La Mascaronne especially following the restoration carried out in the vineyard by Tom Bove, the previous owner. Tom had managed and revitalised the estate since 1999, as well as Château Miraval selling that in 2012 to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. At La Mascaronne, Bove replanted vineyards and converted to organic farming – gaining certification in 2016. Only a short time after Tom took over the estate, winemaker Nathalie Longefay was producing award-winning wines including this Quat' Saisons or Four Seasons, a rosé for drinking all year round. In 2019 RobertParker.com said that La Mascaronne is an organic producer that "clearly merits more attention". Cos d’Estournel clearly thought so too and have promised not to make too many changes - apart from a new look label and the Quat' Saisons name which is less prominent.
With fully certified organic status La Mascaronne practises sustainability in all aspects of its vineyard management and winemaking processes and works with respect for the environment and balance of the ecosystem. "Long renowned for the quality of our wines due to the unique terroir - chalk/clay hills completely covered with small stones - and ideal climate, the recent major investment in wine making technology and viticulture is yielding wines of an exciting excellence."
Food Pairing
This is a great wine for drinking as an aperitif or with food; it is so versatile that it is easier to list the foods that you might want to avoid with this wine - butter based sauces, creamy sauces, curry, strong cheeses.
Producer's Notes
"Marked by a dry and hot summer, the 2020 vintage saw the deeply rooted vines resist these conditions and give the berries remarkable concentration. Aromas of white peach, hawthorn flowers and citrus notes make for a beautifully refined nose, coupled with some serious structure and a long, delicate and fresh finish. The lightest of pink hues, this is Provence at its very finest.”
Awards
16.5 points JancisRobinson.com Apr 2021
"There's a gentle creamy depth to this fresh, red-fruited rosé which makes me wonder if there is some old or big oak used for maturation. It's very very pale, scented with red fruits, white blossom, even a hint of rose, a little stony too. Delicate but fragrant. In the mouth, this has depth and substance and a hint of spice, which also makes me wonder about some oak influence even though it is very subtle. A fine rosé with freshness and pretty good length."
RobertParker.com Jul 2021 "A blend of Grenache and Cinsault, with small additions of Syrah, Rolle (Vermentino) and Mourvèdre. Scents of crushed stone are joined by hints of strawberries, melon and citrus on the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is linear and direct, with mouthwatering acids and a crisp, refreshing finish.”
