2015 Château de Roquefort Petit Salé Monblanc

Region: Bandol < Provence < France
Grapes: Clairette + a splash of Vermentino
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic/biodynamic farming, 75 year-old vines at 1000m on limestone/flint soils; aged in concrete tanks; bottled unfined/unfiltered with low added SO2; 12% ABV
Winemaker: Raimond de Villeneuve

In 1995 Raimond de Villeneuve took over this 25-hectare estate on the edge of the Bandol appellation, which had always been farmed sans chemicals (because they couldn’t afford them), and officially converted to organic farming. Petit Salé (little salty) is the local name given to the Clairette grape because the skins look salt-flecked, and the flavor is distinctly salty. These babies were planted in 1954 on stony limestone soils, which is evident in the stony minerality that dominates. It’s super fresh and drinkable, with floral and citrus notes and that salinity on the finish. For Spring food and green things – deviled eggs, asparagus, artichokes or a crunchy chopped salad.