Mirabeau – Côtes de Provence, Etoile Rosé – 2022

Description

PRODUCER:
Stephen and Jeany Cronk founded Maison Mirabeau after selling their home in London and moving their family to Provence to realise their dream of creating an award-winning wine brand. Some years later, they purchased Domaine Mirabeau, a beautiful wine farm in the Plaine des Maures and started their own regenerative farming project. Stephen has also co-founded the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation to develop a greater understanding of soil health and to become a hub of information on regenerative farming methods for other wine farmers. The 20-hectare estate includes 14 hectares of vines which are farmed regeneratively and organically and is certified HVE Level 3. This estate produces their award-winning, flagship cuvée ‘La Reserve’.

VINEYARD:
The grapes are sourced predominantly from the famed higher elevation vine growing areas below the Mont Aurélien in the Bouches-du-Rhône. The microclimate, with its diurnal temperature shifts and cool night temperatures, imparts the fruit with minerality and natural freshness. The poor limestone soils contribute to the elegance and aromatic profile of the fruit. Complementary blending elements are added from the best parcels of the area around Notre-Dame des Anges, with sandstone and schist soils, where the maritime and continental climates converge, imparting the fruit with aromatic complexity and length. The vineyards are sustainably cultivated to promote soil and vine health and biodiversity.

WINEMAKING:
The grapes were harvested at night to retain freshness and the aromatic profile, followed by gentle direct pressing and partial maceration on the lees, known as stabulation. Temperature-controlled fermentation took place with selected yeasts in neutral vessels to retain the purity of the fruit. Throughout the winemaking process, the wines were protected with inert gas to preserve the freshness and aromatics. 5% of this cuvée was matured in French and Austrian new oak for seven months to impart delicate complexity.

VINTAGE:
2022 was another very dry year in Provence, and one that proved the vineyards’ resilience to these challenging conditions. Farmers had to be particularly attentive to harvest dates, given galloping maturity levels. Some late-summer rainfall kept everyone on their toes. Good phenolic maturity and slightly higher alcohol levels than the previous year were balanced through skilful blending. The vintage tends to be naturally paler in terms of colour than the previous year.

TASTING NOTE:
Elegant and pale, with notes of papaya and clementine, layered with delicate spice and garrigue herbs, lead to a textured, layered palate with complexity, freshness, and refined minerality on the finish.

GRAPES:
Carignan 3%, Cinsault 19%, Grenache 55%, Other Varieties 3%, Rolle 2%, Syrah 18%.