WINERY: Commanderie de Peyrassol is located in the foothills of the Massif des Maures mountain range, 10 miles from the Mediterranean Sea, between Cannes and Marseille. Existing as a winery for almost 800 years, Commanderie de Peyrassol has thrived as a sanctuary for gathering travelers, all the while holding true to its values of hospitality and conviviality. The estate consists of 1,000 hectares with 95 hectares planted to vineyards cultivated on dry, rocky clay and limestone soils. With effort from the current owner, Philippe Austury, to revitalize estates’ centuries-old reputation, Peyrassol is now, more than ever, synonymous with great wines and celebrated generosity across the world.

WINE: Flagship wine from the Commanderie, with a focus on freshness and minerality. The Commandeur’s range of wines is the most accessible to obtain from the estate. It accurately represents the exceptional soil and essence of the vineyard. It highlights the younger vines and the sheer enjoyment of the fruit, while still maintaining a delightful aromatic complexity.

Highly sustainable agriculture. Soil treatment is kept to a minimum and the vines are constantly monitored, on the basis that prevention is better than cure. Cereals are sown between the rows to enhance the vitality of the soil. The grapes are selected from plots of young vines, with yields of around 45 hectolitres per hectare. Separate manual harvesting for each variety in 30 kg baskets.

The 2020 season began in spring with regular rainfalls until mid-July, with a final rainfall of 17 mm. Until the beginning of August, the water stress remained moderate. With the summer heat, the soils of the plateau as well as the hillside (where our Rolle and Syrah grow) became relatively tense. Yet, the temperature variations between the cool nights and hot days helped reach a well-balanced acidity. The seasonality favored a very active ripening leading to a harvest taking place a week earlier than in 2019. The wines are mature and well-balanced.

The harvest was sorted in the vineyard and again on tables, the grapes were de-stemmed but not pressed, then fed by gravity into concrete vats where they remained for 3 weeks with alternate gentle punching down and stirring.

It is the Syrah aromas that explode on the first nose: redcurrant, blueberry, and spices, conferring from the outset a beautiful personality to this wine. Then comes the freshness of the Cabernet Sauvignon which balances the whole. It is crunchy with bright acidity and mixed with notes of red fruits and licorice on the palate. Its elegant finish reveals the roundness of gourmet cherries. Its almost minty freshness makes this wine the perfect companion throughout the meal.