2016 Chateau de Léoube Rosé Côtes de Provence

Grapes: Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic farming, with biodynamic practices; coastal vineyards with 25-year-old vines, mixture of clay mica schist and sand soils; whole cluster pressed and fermented in stainless steel, on lees 6 months before blending.
Winemaker: Romain Ott 

NEW VINTAGE ALERT: 2016 in the house! Because, while we love our weird wine from far off places, sometimes it’s nice to go straight to the source. Especially when we’re talking rosé and the Côtes de Provence. This bottle, from an organic/biodynamic estate on the Côte d’Azur, comes with pedigree in the form of winemaker Romain Ott of the famed Domaine Ott. Léoube is a big estate (160 acres), stretching 2.5 miles along the coast in a national park spitting distance from St Tropez. But unlike most rosé factories in Provence, it’s one founded on principles of organic farming, environmental stewardship and low-intervention winemaking. Which makes sense, considering this is the baby of Lord and Lady Bamford, Britain’s OG organics power couple (they founded Daylesford Organics, the successful British “farm fresh to you” business). Based on the traditional Cinsault and Grenache grapes, Romain’s classic Provencal rosé bottling not only satisfies on the poolside and picnic fronts, it seems to get better as the wine opens up. Tons of garrigue, green olive and spice paired with ripe strawberry, and denseness on the palate shows the skilled and serious winemaking. Go classy and share this at the season’s first picnic. Your Domaine Ott-loving friends will have minds blown.