Château de Fonscolombe - Esquisse 2021
Price: $16.00
| Producer | Château de Fonscolombe |
| Country | France |
| Region | Provence |
| Subregion | Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence |
| Varietal | Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Sku | 019544 |
| ABV | 12.50% |
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Located in Aix-en-Provence, Château de Fonscolombe has a long history of viticulture: the Phoenicians first planted vines on the property in the 600's BCE, followed by the Romans, whose evidence can still be found among the vines: it is not uncommon for workers to unearth ancient tiles or terracotta. Today, the estate is owned and operated by the Thiéblin family, who have restructured the cellar and vineyards and increased the area under vine to 80 hectares. The vineyards are in the extreme north of Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence, on the limestone foothills of the Trevaresse and terraces of the Durance River, where the vines grow in predominantly shallow stony and sandy clay-limestone soils over a limestone rock which breaks through the surface in some plots. The hot and sunny Mediterranean climate is tempered by the cooling effects of the Mistral and breezes from the Alps, which, combined with the different soil types, create gorgeous wines of freshness, balance and energy.
The Château de Fonscolombe Esquisse rosé is a blend of 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines that average 50 years of age. Since the vineyards are further inland, the vines benefit from a cooler climate than along the coast, which, combined with the limestone soils, helps give the refreshment and spine of zesty acidity to this beautiful Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence rosé. In the glass the wine displays a light salmon color with a pale, water-white rim. The nose is expressive with enchanting aromas of ripe alpine strawberry, honeydew melon and a touch of tropical fruits that add to the bouquet, alongside an intriguing note of river stones. On the palate, the wine delivers wonderful freshness and energy perfectly balanced with the concentration of ripe, lively fruit flavors and an added floral element to complement its stony minerality. The finish is thirst-quenching and inviting, calling you back to the glass for another engaging sip. Perfect to enjoy with the summer heat, though it pairs beautifully with fresh tomatoes drizzled with olive oil tossed with garlic and herbs, grilled shrimp and vegetable skewers or a beautiful piece of pan-roasted fish.
