Williams Chase Rose, Provence

Description

Williams Chase Rose is a superb Provencal Rose which, from the 2017 vintage, is bottled as a Coteaux D’Aix En Provence. The 2017 is the 5th release of this wine and Williams Chase moved to a larger property to keep up with demand.

The grapes for the 2017 vintage of the Williams Chase Rose come from Chateau Brillane. Chateau Brillane is situated just to north of the famous French town of Aix-en-Provence. The soils here are limestone and quartz dominated and the vineyards are located at an average altitude of 400m above sea level. The vines are mostly 40 years of age, facing south with a view over the Saint Victoire. As mentioned, the vineyards here are located in the Appellation Coteaux D’Aix En Provence Protegee – the vineyards here are some of the furthest West among the wines of Provence.

Under the supervision of Chief winemaker Dale Clarke, the wine remains stylistically the same. Williams Chase Rose is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvedre and Vermentino (also known as Rolle). It is the third vintage to have included some Vermentino in the blend, as its close relatives in the Cotes de Provence typically do.

The grapes for Williams Chase Rose  are harvested in the early hours of the morning to preserve the freshness (and maintains optimum acidity) in the wine and the grape varieties are vinified separately which allows more control over the final blend. After the grapes are destemmed there is a gentle pressing followed by minimal skin contact which is what gives the wine its delicate pink colour. The wine undergoes a temperature controlled fermentation below 17˚C. A portion of the blend is aged on the lees with regular lees stirring which enhances creaminess and texture.

Williams Chase Rosé is presented in a very smart, elegant bottle that matches the the Willams Chase Vodka and Gin bottles. One item of note is the closure – the wine is sealed with a rather cool Vinolok closure. Why not re-use the bottle for making sloe or damson gin or for making salad dressing?

Sometimes available in 1.5L magnums – please check here for current availability.