Shellfish in Provence

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Tibouren-led Cotes de Provence Cru Classe rose from Galoupet, acquired by Moet Hennessy in 2019. The estate uses native yeasts, gravity-flow winemaking and partial old-oak fermentation for textural depth.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Coteaux d'Aix Grand Vin Blanc from Rolle and Chardonnay grown biodynamically on the La Coste estate. Honeyed-yet-mineral; barrel-aged for cellar potential.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Organic-farmed Cotes de Provence rose from La Mascaronne at Le Luc-en-Provence. Pale, fresh and structured; one of the more critically respected mid-priced Provencal roses.

Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Organic Cotes de Provence rose from Leoube's seafront vineyards on the Bormes-les-Mimosas coast. Pale, fresh and friendly with saline depth from the sea.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Leoube's premium Cotes de Provence rose, partially oak-fermented for texture. Stone fruit and tangerine over a saline finish with creamy almond-wax depth.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Rolle-Sauvignon Coteaux Varois white from Famille Perrin's organic Margui estate. Citrus-lifted, herb-driven, saline.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Minuty's flagship premium rose, partially old-oak fermented, with the name referring to the estate's elevation in metres. Vinous and structured, designed to compete with the upper Esclans tier.

Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Minuty's accessible Cotes de Provence rose, instantly recognisable by its tall slim bottle. Pale, fresh and friendly with stone fruit, citrus and saline depth.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Minuty's Cru Classe estate rose, from the family's single Gassin estate above the Bay of Saint-Tropez. More structured than the volume M cuvee, with classic Provencal stone-fruit lift.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Joint-venture rose from Chateau Miraval (Perrin family with Brad Pitt and the Stoli Group). Cinsault-led with classic Provencal stone fruit and citrus over a saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Festive

Joint-venture Champagne Blanc de Blancs from the Peters-Liebart family of Champagne Pierre Peters with Brad Pitt and the Stoli Group, bottled under the Muse de Miraval label; chalky, ginger-driven and built for cellaring.

Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Miraval's accessible entry-level rose, designed as a fresher, lighter expression than the estate flagship. Watermelon and citrus lift over a saline finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Rustic

Saignee rose from Pradeaux's Mourvedre blocks. Deeper coloured and more structured than typical Provencal rose, with garrigue-herb depth and a salt-tinged finish.

Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Cuvee Alexandra is Rasque's volume Cotes de Provence rose, named after the late owner Chantal Biancone-Lukianoff's daughter. Pale, fresh and reliably structured.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Saint Maur's premium single-vineyard rose, partially old-oak fermented for textural depth. Stone fruit and tangerine over saline depth with creamy almond-wax richness.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Saint Maur's accessible Cru Classe rose since acquisition by Roger Zannier in 2009. Pale, fresh and reliably structured.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Refreshing

Biodynamic Bandol rose with Mourvedre-led structure. Stone fruit and pomegranate over a saline-fennel finish; ages four years easily.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Cotes de Provence Cru Classe rose from organic Sainte Marguerite. Classic Provencal style: stone fruit, citrus and saline depth from coastal La Londe vineyards.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Sainte Roseline's premium cuvee, partially old-oak fermented for textural depth. Stone fruit and tangerine with almond-wax richness; designed to compete with the Esclans and Minuty upper tier.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Cru Classe rose from Sainte Roseline at Les Arcs. Distinctive Marc Chagall-illustrated label; classic structured Provencal rose with Tibouren character.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Contemplative · Elegant

Clairette-led white from old vines on limestone scree, fermented and aged in old foudres. Among Provence's most age-worthy whites, with waxy texture and a saline finish.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

The Esclans flagship and benchmark for ultra-premium Provencal rose. Grenache from 80-year-old vines, fermented and aged in mostly new 600-litre demi-muids. Dense, structured and built to age.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Esclans' premium rose, fermented and aged in 600-litre demi-muids on lees. Vinous and structured, with almond-vanilla texture from oak balanced by saline depth and citrus.

Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Esclans' entry-level companion to Whispering Angel, designed for early summer drinking. Lighter, paler and crisper, with watermelon and citrus over a saline finish.

Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

The Cotes de Provence rose that arguably defined the modern category. Pale, fresh and friendly, with stone fruit and citrus over a saline finish; the entry point to Sacha Lichine's Esclans range.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Rolle-Sauvignon Coteaux d'Aix Blanc from Beaupre at Saint-Cannat. Citrus-lifted, herb-driven and pairing-friendly.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Rolle-led Bellet white from the Saquier slopes inside the Nice city limits. Salty, almond-driven and pairing-friendly.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Braquet-led Bellet rose, the rare appellation rose built around the heritage indigenous grape. Pale, herbal and locally driven.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Berne's mid-tier Cotes de Provence rose, in the recognisable frosted-glass bottle. More structured than Inspiration with longer lees aging.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Rolle-led Bellet Blanc with a Chardonnay accent from the Crematt slopes above Nice. Saline, herbal and aromatic.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Braquet-led Bellet rose from the hills above Nice. The rare appellation rose built around the indigenous grape; pale, herbal and locally driven.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Elegant

High-altitude Mourvedre-led rose from Pibarnon's amphitheatre. Saline and herb-driven with grapefruit lift; ages four to five years easily, unusual for Provencal rose.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Clairette-led Bandol white from Pibarnon's higher terraces. Yellow apple and lemon thyme over a saline-driven palate with almond-skin texture and persistent salinity.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Contemplative

100 percent Tibouren from Cibonne's oldest single-parcel vines, aged 18 months under a velum. A long-velum-aged expression of Provencal Tibouren: dried-fruit, oxidative-driven and deeply savoury.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Contemplative

The reference for serious Tibouren in Provence: aged 12 months in old foudres under a velum that allows controlled oxidation. Dried fruit, orange peel and nutty depth set this apart from any other Provencal rose.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Rolle-led Bellet white from biodynamic vineyards above Nice. Saline, almond-driven and quietly age-worthy.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Marsanne-led Cassis white from terraced limestone vines above the Mediterranean at Cap Canaille. Saline, mineral and built around the salt of the sea below.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Pale Mediterranean rose from terraced cliffs at Cap Canaille. Direct-press Grenache-Cinsault with high acidity and a saline, mineral finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative

Premium oak-fermented Cru Classe rose from organic Gavoty. Named after Bernard Gavoty, the late music critic who chronicled the estate in the 20th century. Almond and saline depth with stone-fruit lift.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Cru Classe rose from organic Gavoty near Cabasse. Family-run since 1806, the estate is one of the more under-the-radar Cru Classe holdings. Classic structured Provencal rose.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Elegant

Mourvedre-led Bandol rose with serious structure: pale salmon in colour but dense and savoury in the glass. Wild strawberry and sea spray over a thyme-and-pepper spine that ages five years easily.

Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Cotes de Provence rose from the Saint-Tropez Maitres Vignerons cooperative under the Tropez brand. Pale, fresh and built for beach and aperitivo.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing

Cru Classe rose from Scottish-owned Rimauresq at Pignans. Partial old-oak fermentation gives the cuvee texture; classic structured Provencal rose with almond-saline depth.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Clairette-led Bandol white from Terrebrune's organic Triassic terraces at Ollioules. Apple and white-blossom over a saline-driven palate with almond texture and a wax-bound finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Elegant

Mourvedre-led rose from Terrebrune's organic Triassic vineyards. Saline and herb-driven with cool stone-fruit lift; ages four years easily on the strength of its acidity.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Refreshing

Biodynamic-farmed Bandol rose from Bastide Blanche. Saline, herb-driven and structured; one of the better-value organic roses in the appellation.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Refreshing

Mourvedre-led organic rose from Begude's high amphitheatre. Stone fruit and garrigue-driven with saline depth; ages four years easily.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Classical Cassis Blanc from the Paret family's organic-certified vines facing the bay. Saline, citrussy and built for sea-facing pairings.

Dry · Full-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Reserve Cassis Blanc from old-vine Marsanne with partial barrel fermentation. Honeyed weight and saline drive for ageing.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Pale Mediterranean Cassis rose from organic-certified Grenache and Cinsault. Saline, easy and built for summer drinking.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant

Mourvedre-led rose with classic Bandol structure. Red currant and thyme over a saline finish; the wine's body carries serious food pairing.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Savoury

Marsanne-Clairette Cassis Blanc from steep limestone slopes at the foot of Cap Canaille. Saline, chiseled and built for seafood.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Pale Provence rose from Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvedre grown on Cap Canaille's limestone. Direct-press, saline and built for summer seafood tables.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Refreshing

Mourvedre-led Bandol rose from Gros Nore. Saline and garrigue-driven with red-fruit lift and the structure to handle Provencal cooking.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Marsanne-Clairette Cassis Blanc with a Sauvignon Blanc accent for added lift. Saline, herbal and built for the harbour-side seafood table.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Old-vine Marsanne-led Cassis Blanc de Blancs, with partial barrel ferment giving textural weight. Honey and almond on a mineral spine.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Mourvedre-led Bandol rose from Bunan's Moulin des Costes estate. Approachable, herb-driven and reliable, with classic Bandol structure for the price.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Elegant

Mourvedre-led Bandol rose from Ott's Romassan estate, presented in the family's signature amphora-shaped bottle. Structured, saline and herb-driven; ages five years easily.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Savoury · Elegant

Cotes de Provence rose from the Ott family's founding estate at Taradeau. Coastal-influenced with stone fruit and citrus lift over a saline-peppery finish.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Semillon-led Provencal white from Ott's coastal Clos Mireille estate near La Londe-les-Maures. Wax, honey and saline depth from vineyards within a few hundred metres of the Mediterranean.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · Medium acidity · Elegant · Savoury

Confidentielle is the estate's reserve white from old-vine Rolle and Semillon on schist soils in the La Londe sub-denomination. Honeyed-yet-mineral; lees-aged for textural weight.

Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing

Pale Cotes de Provence La Londe rose from organic Grenache-Cinsault-Syrah on schist soils. The estate's everyday rose, named for Magali Combard.