2016 Chateau La Mascaronne Quat'Saisons Rosé 750 ml

The Winery That Wasn’t Sold to Brangelina

When Tom Bove sold Château Miraval to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for $60 million, he kept the jewel of his vineyard holdings, Château La Mascaronne, for himself. We’ve followed Mascaronne over the past five vintages — the 2016 is unquestionably the best vintage to-date. Like Tom, we’re content to let the paparazzi chase Brad and Angelina. It’s not fame we’re after; it’s exceptional wine at exceptional prices, and the graceful, silky 2016 Château La Mascaronne — is special. A Wine Enthusiast “Editors’ Choice” 91-point rosé love-letter from the Côtes de Provence, to be precise.

While it’s incredibly cool that Pink Floyd recorded part of their magnum opus “The Wall” at Miraval, it’s a different kind of coolness that makes Château La Mascaronne unique.

The winery’s near-1,000 foot elevation vineyards are rooted just outside the rolling hills of the medieval village of Le Luc, affording the uniquely cool-weather microclimate forged from a higher elevation, combined with well-draining craggy limestone soils, peppered with small stones and clay. Vines exert extreme vigor, snaking deep into the seemingly impenetrable rocky site, resulting in low yields and small berries of succulent Grenache and Cinsault. These grape are hand-harvested before daybreak, sorted in the vineyard, and again in the cellar.

The result is a sleek, juicy show-stopper, bright with crisp acidity and sharp mineral notes. Wine Enthusiast’s 91-point review expresses as much, noting its “mineral edge” and calling it “lively.”