946, Côtes de Provence-Sainte-Victoire – 2016
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Introduction
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946 is named for the Croix de Provence that was erected at the top of Sainte-Victoire’s western peak, at an altitude of 946 meters (3,104 feet), above the Provençal vineyards. The cross was built in 1875 by local priests, after Provence was spared the plague. In cuvée 946, Château Gassier captures the elegance and most beautiful expression of the Saint-Victoire terroir.
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Vineyard Profile
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Château Gassier is situated 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) from Aix en Provence, at the foot of Mount Sainte-Victoire. Its 40 hectares (98.84 acres) benefit from an ideal location in the heart of the Arc Valley, protected by Sainte-Victoire in the north, the Regagnas hills in the south and the Aurélien mountains to the east. The vineyards are at 330 meters (1,082 feet) with a southern exposure.
- Appellation: Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire was acknowledged as an appellation in its own right in 2005. The vineyard area of Sainte-Victoire is viewed as one of the most unspoiled in France. It has been classified as a natural reserve ”Grand Site de France.”
- Viticulture: 100% organic; will be officially certified organic with the 2017 vintage
- Vine Age: Grenache planted in 1982; Syrah in 2002; Rolle (Vermentino) in 1998
- Soil: Clay and limestone pebbles and sand caused by erosion from Mount Sainte Victoire
- Density: 4,000 vines/hectare (1,619 vines/acre);
- Training: Cordon de Royat (double and single)
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Vintage Report
- Harvest Date(s): September 20, 21 and 22; early morning
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Vinification
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The creation of 946 Rosé requires precise winemaking based upon the fine and delicate assembly of three basic components: To begin, we select a wine from the heavier parts of the juice (lees) previously stored at a low temperature of 4 C (39 F) and then filtered. This base gives the wine its roundness in the mouth. The next derives from the alcoholic fermentation in half muid (500-liter/132-gallon barrels) of new Austrian wood (Stockinger) which gives complexity to the wine. The final component comes with cool fermentation between 14 C (57.2 F) and 16 C (60.8 F) in concrete tank to reveal the delicate aromas.
- Filtration: Bentonite fining and tangential filtration
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Technical Information
- Varietal Composition: 45% Grenache, 45% Syrah, 10% Rolle (Vermentino)
- Alcohol: 13%
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Tasting Notes
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A light rosé with hints of lychee. The nose is intense and fruity, with aromas of nectarine, peach and mango. On the palate, the 946 is fresh, lively and long. The wine has a light tannic structure and minerality, which is typical in the Sainte-Victoire terroir.
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Images
Reviews
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946, Côtes de Provence-Sainte-Victoire – 2016 – 92 points – Vinous
"Bright orange-pink. Fresh, mineral-accented red berries and citrus fruits on the mineral-accented nose. Juicy, focused and light on its feet, offering sappy tangerine and strawberry flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. The mineral note comes back strong on the impressively long, penetrating finish, which leaves a suave floral note behind."
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946, Côtes de Provence-Sainte-Victoire – 2016 – 93 points – Wine Enthusiast
"Aged in wood, this wine is rich and spicy. Its fruit though is beautifully in balance, ripe with raspberry and red-currant fruits that are shot through with lemon acidity. This is a full-bodied wine, impressively structured and likely to age for a year or two. It is named after the 946 steps up the mountain behind the estate. Drink from late 2017."