In the glass
Aroma: honeysuckle, white peach, beeswax, almond
Palate: dried apricot, fennel, lemon curd, salted nuts
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.
What it pairs with
-
Bouillabaisse
The wine's textured almond-and-fennel core stands up to the saffron broth without being overwhelmed. -
Roast Bresse chicken with herbs
Rich poultry with garlic and herb butter meets the wine's beeswax and dried-apricot weight. -
Brandade de morue
Salt cod and olive oil's lactic-saline core pairs with the wine's lemon-curd and saline finish. -
Aged Comte
Nutty alpine cheese sits beautifully with the wine's almond and salted-nut palate.
History
Palette Blanc from Chateau Simone has been bottled continuously since the Rougier family took ownership in 1830. Clairette is the dominant grape (around 80 percent), grown alongside Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc and old-polyculture varieties.
- 1830 — Rougier family begins continuous estate bottling at Chateau Simone
- 1948 — Palette AOC created with Chateau Simone as anchor estate
Facts
- Producer
- Chateau Simone
- Grapes
- Clairette (80%), Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Bourboulenc, Muscat
- Classification
- Palette AOC
- Oak
- Fermented and aged on lees in old oak foudres and demi-muids for 12 months
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 55 to 75 at retail
- Drinking window
- 3-20 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1830
Frequently asked about Chateau Simone Palette Blanc
What does Chateau Simone Palette Blanc taste like?
Honeysuckle, white peach, beeswax and almond on the nose; dried apricot, fennel, lemon curd and salted nuts on the palate. Full-bodied with medium acidity and a long saline finish.
When should I drink Chateau Simone Palette Blanc?
Drink between 3 and 20 years from vintage. The lees-aged Clairette gains waxy texture and depth with age; younger bottles open beautifully with 30 minutes in the decanter.
What grapes are in Chateau Simone Palette Blanc?
Clairette dominates the blend (around 80 percent), with Grenache Blanc, Ugni Blanc, Bourboulenc and Muscat from the estate's heritage polyculture parcels making up the balance.
What food pairs with Chateau Simone Palette Blanc?
Bouillabaisse is the canonical pairing; the saffron broth meets the wine's almond-and-fennel core. Roast Bresse chicken, brandade de morue and aged Comte are equally strong matches.