“A blend of fruit from all three of the Ott cousins’ estates—Château de Selle and Clos Mireille in the Côtes de Provence and Château Romassan in Bandol—this is full-bodied and spicy. Mostly grenache with 20 percent mourvèdre, with a quarter of the blend vinified in spherical earthenware vats, the wine is rich in red raspberry and cherry flavor, with a little cherry-skin bitterness that points up an earthy savor. Lean and flinty, with a stony minerality, this deserves a decant before serving, or a year or two in the cellar, to show its details.”

“An assemblage of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre blended from three estates (Chateau Romassan, Chateau de Selle and Clos Mireille), 25% of the 2020 Vin de France Rose Etoile was aged in spherical ceramic vessels, while the rest went into stainless steel. It's an extremely pale pink in hue, with coppery inflections, while the nose offers hints of crushed stone, lime zest and grapefruit. Hints of nectarine give the briefest impression of ripeness on the medium-bodied palate, which quickly reverts to bright citrus, a crisp, streamlined feel and a long, zesty finish. It looks as if it could drink well for a few years...”

“Diaphanous pink. Highly expressive, mineral-tinged red berry, honeydew melon and nectarine aromas show excellent focus, and a suave floral nuance emerges with air. Palate-staining peach nectar, raspberry and honeysuckle flavors are given lift and back-end cut by a minerally undercurrent. Concentrated but impressively lithe as well. There’s a resonating mineral quality on the penetrating finish, which leaves behind a lingering floral note.”

“Yes, this really is more interesting on the nose than the Côtes de Provence wines I have just been tasting – with a bit of salinity indeed. I wanted to swallow this well-balanced wine with attractive grip on the end. Smooth as silk and appetising with no excess sweetness. Persistent.”