The production of alcoholic beverages, be it whiskey, gin, tequila, cognac or wine, is a fairly popular area of investment among celebrities.
One of the most famous of these enterprises is, perhaps, Chateau Miraval, situated in Provence and owned by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. But let’s leave it to the press and the lawyers of the star couple to figure out who owns the Chateau and its vineyards to a greater extent: in my article, I will focus on the quality of the wine and the terroir of the estate.
Geographical location and features of the terroir
The vineyards of Chateau Miraval are located in the center of Provence, near the settlements of Correns and Brignols, which was once the residence of the Counts of Provence. If you look at the map of the region, this location belongs to the so-called “green Provence” and the appellation Coteaux Varois en Provence. The soils here are calcareous, calcareous-clayey, with some inclusions of gravel, tuff and slate. The terrain itself is relief and is formed by the surrounding mountain ranges – Saint-Beaume in the west, Bessillons in the north and Barres de Cuers in the south, which affects the local climate as follows:
- Protects from cool air from the Atlantic
- Creates a certain continentality of the climate, being a natural barrier
- Favors mountain winds
- Provides a relative height above sea level, the maximum value of which reaches 500 meters
The vineyards of Château Miraval are located on terraces, at an elevation of 350 meters, which in turn contributes to a significant difference in night and day temperatures, provides a favorable location of the vines under the sun’s rays, and also prevents stagnation of water in case of heavy rainfall.
Varieties and production technology
The wine blend consists of typical southern varieties – red Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, supplemented by the white Rolle variety (another more famous name is Vermentino). Let me remind you that the blending of red and white varieties in the form of finished wine (i.e. after alcoholic fermentation) in the production of rosé wine is prohibited by European law, but for pressing, i.e. before fermentation, bunches or fresh berries of white and red varieties can be mixed. Here, Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle are subjected to gentle direct pressing, and Syrah undergoes a short maceration, i.e. for this variety, the “saignée” method is used (which is translated from French as “bleeding”). Then, 95% of the wine volume undergoes vinification in neutral stainless steel vats, and 5% – in oak barrels using batonnage.
Tasting
Color: pale salmon
Nose: expressive, with delicate notes of red apple, raspberry, red currant, pink grapefruit and fresh almond (with a slight bitterness), as well as sour red cherry, rose hip and rose.
Palate: energetic and fresh, with a distiguished verticality, bright hints of red berries (raspberry, red currant, cranberry, red cherry), sourness and bitterness of grapefruit, as well as elegant floral notes (rose hip, rose, lily). Quite a long and fresh finish with high acidity and a salty mineral note.
Overall impression and assessment of quality: a good rosé wine, typical of Provence with its elegant fruitiness, airiness and complexity, but at the same time possessing a rounded but elegant texture.
For what occasion and what to pair it with: a classic Provencal rosé, with its characteristic delicacy and freshness. Perfect for a summer aperitif with light snacks, such as shrimp with avocado, lobster rolls, or caprese salad or vegetable appetizers.
