As we are all revved up and excited for a new year and are awaiting the arrival of the 2013 blend it now seems a good time to look back on last year’s journey from vine to glass with our first ever rosé wine, the 2012 vintage.
Having secured 5 hectares of prime vineyard land just outside picturesque Provence village of Ménerbes, local vintner Alex Samour set to source the perfect vines on behalf of businessman and founder of Domaine des Jeanne, Mervyn Davies.
To create a complex taste with depth, the 2012 vintage was to be produced using fruit with 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Clairette. This recipe coupled with the annual sun in the Lubéron region, created a beautifully feminine wine. Refreshingly dry, vivid with stunning fruit notes and a long finish.
With Grenache vines aged 10-25 years and the majority of Syrah at 10 years, our vineyard was producing high quality grapes from March 2012. Within no time at all, the first vendange (harvest) produced a high quality yield.
As part of the production process Chateauneuf du Pape producer, Serge Mouriesse, evaluated all the grapes accompanied by Alex. Before and after harvesting and throughout the fermentation process, Serge took samples of the crop, ensuring it met our high standards and was not contaminated.
During the vendange in September 2012, Alex harvested only the highest quality grapes for the wine. Picked in the morning darkness ensuring that the freshness is retained in the grape, the grapes were then pressed as the juice is recovered. The mixture was cooled to 13 degrees Celsius and then decanted for 24 hours. The appropriate fermentation level was set and controlled by cool temperatures. The next 25 days were dedicated to fermentation where the sugars break down the natural yeast into alcohol. The blend then underwent clean filtration and was bottled in Bordeaux style bottles. This whole process took place in local family owned company Florian Vève.
Meanwhile on the other side of the channel, Mervyn had established Professor Paul Huxley, successful contemporary artist and Royal Academician as the brand’s artist. He composed a stunning design for the label that expressed our brand values perfectly; chic, contemporary and exclusive.
By April 2013, we had 2000 bottles and 600 magnums and put into place an action plan to see our wine in fabulous venues across the UK and France (check out Our Wine).
In October 2013, the second vendange was completed and we are expecting the next batch to arrive in the UK ready for sale by March 2014. Although still modest, we have increased our offering to 4000 bottles and 100 magnums next year. If you would like any further information or are interested in making an order, please contact Rebecca on info@domainedesjeanne.com or orders@domainedesjeanne.com.
Please follow us here to see how this year’s blend is progressing, we can’t wait!
