“Les Eglantiers”: This wine is a tribute to the Eglantier, i.e., the rose bush. Wild rose bushes can be found growing throughout the Mediterranean area and their colours are reminiscent of the colour of this wine. The Eglantier’s vitamin C- rich fruit is used in medicine. Tavel was dubbed “the king of rosés” by Balzac. It was said that in Châteauneuf only white and red wines would be produced and in Tavel only rosé.

“Les Eglantiers” is a very intense and elegant Tavel. It boasts a lovely pink hue with bright tints and a nose reminiscent of red berries with a few notes of peach. On the palate, this rosé (that needs no further introduction) reveals flavours of fresh fruit and wild strawberries with a slight zestiness and a remarkably smooth, round character.

Appearance – Dark salmon hue with orange tints.

Nose – Intense and complex. In its early youth, the nose is fresh with red and yellow fruit and violet aromas. After one or two years of cellar-ageing, jammy black fruit and spices come to the fore.

Palate – When young, the wine is fresh, round and soft. After a little cellar-ageing, the palate takes on more fat, breadth and sweetness.

LOCATION

The Tavel vineyards are located slightly beyond the right bank of the river Rhône, in the Gard department, on a plateau located southwest of Orange.

TERROIR

The AOC can be broken down into three distinct terroirs: sand and clay in the southeast, alluvial and pebble terrace in the northwest, and limestone scree in the west. These warm soils (the pebbles reflect the sun’s rays allowing the grapes to ripen well) combined with a very windy Mediterranean climate make this a powerful, fleshy, broad and well-structured rosé.

VINIFICATION & AGEING

The grapes are harvested by hand and the juice then undergoes a cold maceration in vats with the grape skins to draw out more tannin and colour (between 12 and 24 hours). We then carry out a pneumatic pressing. After clarification, the alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats at a temperature of 18-20°C and lasts for 8 to 10 days. The wine is then aged on its fine lees without any malolactic fermentation to preserve its freshness. It is bottled in the March following the harvest.

SERVING

Serve at 13°C.

FOOD PAIRINGS

When young, it pairs perfectly with fish terrines, exotic summer salads, sushi and Asian cuisine. It also works well with pizza. With age, it will pair nicely with shrimp dishes, fatty fish, seafood lasagna, Andouillette from Troyes, Brandade of cod or a sheep’s cheese.

Name: Les Eglantiers
Brand: Brotte – Les Crus
Classification: AOC Tavel
Type: Rosé
Region: Southern Rhône Valley (France)
Grape Varieties: Grenache complemented by Syrah.