Château Simone Palette AOC Rouge 2019

Elegant RED wines may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Provence (a region famed for rosé, after all!), but the unforgettable bottlings of this historic estate deserve a top spot on any wine lover’s Best Of list. Château Simone is nestled in the hills south of Aix-en-Provence, and has been helmed by the Rougier family for two centuries. The estate has since become a dominant force in the Palette appellation, and now encompasses 20 ha of vines, many over 100 years old. Grapes are hand harvested, destemmed, and after a gentle pressing see 15-20 days of fermentation with wild yeast in small wooden vats, before resting on the lees in small foudre. The result is an elegant, characterful wine of impressive depth and nuance. Grenache and mourvèdre are at the forefront, along with an assortment of small quantities of other grape varieties, both well known and obscure. Organically grown.