Domaines Ott
Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards - 2022 Winner
Domaines Ott Château Romassan Bandol Rosé
Bandol, France
Vintage:2021 (Past)
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Reviews
Wine Spectator 92 Points
“Very juicy yet restrained in style, with a core of peach, jasmine, white cherry and rosemary backed by a long finish, which ripples with a wet stone note. Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Grenache. Drink now through 2023.”
Vinous Media 92 Points
“Shimmering, onion skin color. Intense red berry, citrus fruit and floral aromas, along with building suggestions of succulent herbs and dusty minerals. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated strawberry, orange pith and honeysuckle flavors that slowly deepen and take on a peachy nuance with aeration. Finishes impressively long and focused, with a repeating mineral note and a late hint of tarragon.”
Wine & Spirits 96 Points
“Château Romassan sits at the foot of the hilltop village Le Castellet, a few miles north of the Bay of Bandol. The Otts rely on mourvèdre for the bulk of their rosé (this one includes 30 percent cinsault and 15 percent grenache), and, though 2021 was another hot summer here, Romassan’s poor limestone and sandstone soils produced a deeply savory wine. This pale Bandol seems to have inhaled the local scrubland and seaside breezes, presenting that savory edge alongside husk cherry, grapefruit and pale melon flavors. Firm and versatile, it would pair nicely with anything from bouillabaisse to a Niçoise salad; or take it abroad alongside chicken yakitori.”
Overview
Domaines Ott was founded in 1912 by Alsatian engineer Marcel Ott. Today, the wineries are owned and managed by Champagne Louis Roederer, producing some of the world’s most prestigious wines. These wines are made at three distinctively different estates: Château Romassan (Bandol), Clos Mireille, and Château de Selle (both Côtes de Provence).
Château Romassan is located in the Bandol appellation and lies at the foot of the village of Le Castellet. The soil is poor, composed of limestone, sandstone, and marine upper cretaceous marls. The Bandol appellation is known for its terraced landscapes built from the hard stone with vines, which are planted into vast terraces with varying exposures. The sea air from the bay of Bandol compensates for the terroir's acidity and low rainfall. The winery is located on 148 acres, which are fully devoted to wine production. Cultivation methods are traditional and the soil is mechanically tilled and young shoots are trained with the greatest care to the plant.
Winemaking
The grapes are all handpicked and go through a stringent selective grape sorting, followed by an extremely delicate pressing process. Fermentation is done in thermo-regulated vats followed by aging in oak casks for six to eight months.
Tasting Notes
The wine has a bright appearance with a light peach hue. The nose bursts with aromas of citrus interwoven with subtly spicy fragrances of white flowers. The dense, silky palate shows finesse and substance along with a pleasing tension. The wine reveals luscious aromas of grapefruit and wild peaches followed by a lingering liquorice and spice finish.
Harvest Notes
A balmy autumn was followed by an equally mild winter. It was the time for manuring our soils and butting up the vines. After enjoying their rest, the vines stirred into life again with a classic budburst in early spring. On the night of April 8th, some of the vines were hit by frost. But nature surprised us by allowing new buds to emerge and bear fruit. The spring was rainy and the start of the flowering was late. The summer was hot, as it has been for almost 10 years, with heatwaves of varying duration and intensity. On August 19th, harvest began with the first bunches of Grenache.
Technical Information
Varietals: 55% Mourvèdre, 30% Cinsault, 15% Grenache