Grapes of exceptional quality from a noble terroir allow Château d’Aqueria to craft a quintessential Tavel, widely appreciated as the finest wine of its appellation. Grapes are handpicked from Château d’Aqueria’s own vineyards, which span 163 acres across the sandy slopes of Tavel. The mesoclimate is ideal for cultivating Grenache and crafting crisp, fresh rosé wines. Using its cutting-edge weather station located in the heart of the vineyards, Château d’Aqueria precisely monitors weather conditions and adjusts vineyard practices accordingly.

The grapes are hand harvested and destemmed, followed by a maceration to extract color. The varieties are blended two by two to enhance aromatic complexity. This is a key step in crafting these Tavel wines as this maceration extracts color, structure and matter. Once the ideal color has been obtained, the entire tank is bled. The must is then added back to the free-run juice. The grapes are then pressed and each variety is vinified separately, undergoing temperature-controlled maceration and fermentation in stainless steel vats for 15 days. The wines see no malolactic fermentation and no oak contact. The winemaker assembles an initial blend in November and then a second blending takes place in January before bottling.

91 Points
Ken's Wine Guide.com
2018 vintage
93 Points
Wine Enthusiast
2018 vintage
Harvest Note
2018 presented good conditions that allowed the vines to develop both good quality grapes as well as higher yields versus recent years. January brought some rainfall which replenished the ground water following drought conditions in 2017. The spring brought mild temperatures and more rain creating more relief from the dry 2017 vintage. The summer growing season continued to be dry and warm allowing for optimal ripening of the grape clusters. At harvest, conditions continued to be ideal yielding a very complex rosé with notable light red fruit characteristics and aromas.
Tasting Note
Its deep aromatic complexity and its very special balance are the hallmarks of a great wine. Slightly lighter in hue than previous years, its robe is a dazzling ruby color. The attack on notes of spice opens onto a cocktail of red fruit and white fruit. Gorgeous generous mouth where the wide diversity of aromas of fruits combines with a structure that defines the balance of this wine.
Food Pairing
Delicious with lamb curry, poultry in cream sauce, bouillabaisse, paella, Asian cuisine, goat cheeses.
Technical Data
GRAPES: 45% Grenache, 20% Clairette, 15% Cinsault, 8% Mourvèdre, 6% Syrah, 4% Bourboulenc, 2% Picpoul
APPELLATION: Tavel
PH: 3.54
ACIDITY: 2.58 g/L
ABV: 13.5%
Unique Selling Points
  • The standard-bearer of the Tavel region
  • A serious rosé with impact and presence on the palate
  • A Grenache-based blend of grapes typical of the southern Rhône Valley

About the Grape

Grenache
Grenache is loaded with dense, lusty aromas and flavors of black cherry, blackcurrant, jam, pepper and licorice, with a palate-coating texture and high alcohol.
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