Provence Producers

Question 1

Who owns Chateau Simone, and when was it founded?

Answer 1

The Rougier Family

1830

Question 2

Simone: Terroir

Answer 2

20ha of vines
Limestone soil
Planted on a natural amphitheatre of north facing slopes on Montaiguet, 500-750M.
The vineyard as it was replanted post-phylloxera exists to this day.

Question 3

Simone: Wines

Answer 3

White: Clairette, plus Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, plus

Red/Rosé: Grenache, Mourvèdre and Cinsault, plus

Question 4

What is the second line of Simone? What styles are produced?

Answer 4

Les Grands Carmes de Simone, named for the order of monks who originally planted the vineyards and dug out the cellars.
White and Rosé only

Question 5

Who is Jean Rougier?

Answer 5

The fourth generation of Rougiers, instrumental in pushing for the Palette AOP (originally titled the Chateau Simone AOP).

Question 6

Trevallon: Foundations

Answer 6

Planting began in 1973 when Eloi and René Durrbach purchased the property.

Question 7

Trevallon: Appellation

Answer 7

VDP Bouches-du-Rhône, as the 1993 legislation for Les Baux de Provence required a max of 20% cabernet sauvignon (est. 1995).
As of 2009, they appellate with the smaller zonal IGP Alpilles.

Question 8

What are the Alpilles?

Answer 8

A chain of mountains dividing Avignon from the southern parts of Provence; backdrop of Les Baux de Provence.

Question 9

Trevallon: Soils and aspect

Answer 9

Rocky Limestone

North facing slopes looking up at the Alpilles

Question 10

Trevallon: Wines

Answer 10

Blanc: 45% Marsanne, 45% Roussanne, 10% Chardonnay, aged in barrique for 1 year
Rouge: 50/50 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, aged in foudre and barrique (5%) for two years

Question 11

Tempier: History

Answer 11

Owned by the Tempier family since 1834.
Modern era began in 1936 when Lulu Tempier married Lucien Peyraud. Emphasis in the vineyards was turned back to Mourvedre. Lucien was also instrumental in the creation of the Bandol AOP in 1941.

Question 12

Who is the current winemaker at Tempier, and since when?

Answer 12

Daniel Ravier, since 2000.

In general, winemaking is much cleaner and the wines are approachable younger.

Question 13

Tempier: White Winemaking

Answer 13

Destemmed before crushing
Cold soak pre-fermentation
Aging in foudre for 8-10mos post ML

Question 14

Tempier: Rosé Winemaking

Answer 14

50% Direct Press
60% Saignee
Aged 6-8mos in cuve

Question 15

Tempier: Red Winemaking

Answer 15

Destemmed
Native yeast
Fermented in stainless steel
Aged in foudre for 18-20mos

Question 16

La Miguoa

Answer 16

Highest elevation (270M)
Heterogeneous clay: red, blue, ochre
Earthy, gamey wines
Highest % of grenache, lowest % of mourvèdre

Question 17

La Tourtine

Answer 17

Mid-slope
Homogeneous, rich clay
Powerful, tannic wines

Question 18

Cabassaou

Answer 18

Lowest elevation, protected from the Mistral

Highest % of Mourvèdre - 95%

Question 19

Tempier Cuvée Classique

Answer 19

70-75% Mourvèdre plus Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan

Blend of vineyards across the domaine

Question 20

What is La Louffe?

Answer 20

A south-facing slope in the La Miguoa vineyard, planted to cinsault. Bottled separately in 1987-1989.

Question 21

Tempier Blanc: Cepage

Answer 21

60% Clairette, plus Bourboulec, Ugni Blanc, Marsanne

Question 22

Does Tempier produce spirits?

Answer 22

Yes, Marc de Provence, from La Tourtine pomace.

Aged 8-10 years in barrique.

Question 23

Pradeaux: Origins

Answer 23

Property of the Portalis family since before the French Revolution (1752). Currently in the hands of Cyrille Portalis.

Question 24

Pradeaux: Winemaking

Answer 24

Whole cluster press
Aged in barrel for up to 4 years for reds
Vines under 25 not used for red
Rose is direct press, aged in cement.

Question 25

Pradeaux Bandol Rouge

Answer 25

95% Mourvèdre, 5% Grenache

35yo vines

Question 26

What is Cuvée Longe Garde?

Answer 26

Prestige wine of Pradeaux, made when the vintage alows.
Oldest mourvèdre vines (45yo average)
Made exclusively for Rosenthal

Question 27

Pradeaux Bandol Rosé

Answer 27

50/50 Cinsault and Mourvèdre, younger vines

Question 28

Pibarnon: Origins and location

Answer 28

Established 1975 by Comte Henri de Saint-Victor

Farther inland, atop La Colline du Télégraphe; very high elevation (333M)

Question 29

Pibarnon: vineyards and soil

Answer 29

Terraces of Blue Marl & Limestone, fossil deposits dating 150 million years after those elsewhere in the appellation.
Trained en gobelet.
Average vine age 40 years.

Question 30

Pibarnon: Winemaking

Answer 30

partial destemming (30-50%)
fermented in stainless steel
aged in foudre

Question 31

Pibarnon Blanc

Answer 31

45% Clairette, 30% Bourboulenc, plus

Question 32

Pibarnon Rosé

Answer 32

65% Mourvedre, 35% Cinsault

80% Direct Press, 20% Saignee

Question 33

Pibarnon Rouge

Answer 33

95% Mourvèdre.

Some experiements with small amounts of new oak.

Question 34

What is Les Restanques de Pibarnon?

Answer 34

The entry level rouge, from a single vineyard.

70% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache

Question 35

What are restanques?

Answer 35

The terraces of Bandol.