Château d’Aqueria Tavel Southern Côtes du Rhône Rose’ - A taste of Provence
My favorite author and favorite reads are the “Provence” series by Peter Mayle, made famous when his first book classic, “A Year in Provence” was made into a PBS special series … ala Downton Abbey or thereabouts…
I’ve read a dozen of his works over the years and would periodically search for new releases. I was deeply saddened when I learned while visiting the Barnes & Noble near our vacation rental in Destin, FL, that he had passed away. My sadness was offset a bit to learn of two new releases that somehow I missed over the years. So it is that I just finished reading “My Twenty-Five Years in Provence : Reflections on Then and Now”, a retrospective encapsulation of his Provence experience.
And, “The Diamond Caper”, one of his “Caper” series of mystery crime dramas, still set in Provence and filled with all the lifestyle elements of food, wine, and relaxed leisurely living.
This is about a French Riviera socialite's diamonds being stolen -- the latest in a string of seemingly unconnected but increasingly audacious jewelry heists across France. Peter Mayle's Sam Levitt, and his partner, Elena Morales, are thrust into a case of intriguing "perfect crimes”.
All the while, they’re immersed in relocating to Southern France, and renovating a cottage into their new dream home - a replay of the theme of “A Year in Provence”, with all the hallmarks of a delightful sun-splashed Peter Mayle adventure.
Peter Mayle was born in Brighton, England on June 14, 1939. He began his career in advertising as a copywriter and rose to the executive ranks, but left advertising in 1975 to write educational books. He then wrote his travel memoir, A Year in Provence, which then received the British Book Awards' Best Travel Book of the Year in 1990, and was adapted into a television mini-series.
He went on to write a series of nonfiction books, all in his classic whimsical style, showcasing French life, food and wine, centered in Provence. His books included Toujours Provence, Encore Provence, Provence A-Z, and French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork and Corkscrew. His fiction books included The Marseille Caper, The Corsican Caper, and A Good Year, which was adapted into a 2006 film of the same name starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard.
Mayle died on January 18, 2018 at the age of 78.
I was caught up in my own career and lost track of Mayle and his late career releases, until I have recently finally decompressed and started enjoying retirement, and re-engaging in picking up where I left off in light pleasurable reading.
Twenty-five years later, he replays and encapsulates Provencal living in what fittingly was his final book, “My Twenty-Five Years in Provence“, a tribute to his adopted home, expressed through his signature warmth, wit, and humor.
This classic southern jewel is from the well known producer Marcel and Philippe Guigal. The historic estate, Château d’Aqueria actually sits between Tavel and Lirac, two appellations representing two growths of three colours produced at the domain.
In 1919, the estate was purchased by a doctor of law, Jean Olivier, who eventually passed it on to his daughters, Mireille de Bez and Nicole Boccon-Gibod. His son in law, Paul de Bez took over management followed by his grandsons Vincent and Bruno - three generations put this historically significant place on the map as a stand out property of the Tavel and Lirac appellations.
This was a fabulous pairing with a flight of artisan cheeses - Brie, Landmark Creamery, Belleville, Wisconsin Gouda Duet - pasteurized cow and sheep milk cheese, and Grand Cru from Roth Cheese, from Monroe, WI, with fresh sourdough bread.
This release is a blend of the classic designated Rhône grape varieties - 50% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, 10% Clairette, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Bourboulenc, 5% Cinsault.
This all brings me to this blogpost, and a classical Provençal summer wine - a Rose’, the signature drink of Provence, which was precipitated by reading about the passion and predominance of this wine in the lifestyle of Provençal lifestyle and living!
This is also in recognition of our friend, Phillipe, who happens to be visiting this week from Aix-en-Provence. It’s fitting that we indulge in Provençal wines, native to the region we love, and home to our visiting friend, and many great memories of the region.
I served and featured another Rose’ wine and wrote about Provence and our visit there in this recent blogpost - BYOB Fine Wines and Live Jazz at Suzette’s Creperie Wheaton.
This Château d’Aqueria wine is from the village of Tavel, in the Southern Rhône River valley and wine region. Tavel sits just 20 minutes, ten miles, west, across the river, from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the wines that make up a large holding in our cellar, and wine region we’ve fondly visited over the years, both found throughout these pages.
A few examples of posts from our visits to the region:
Four days in Provence - Aix - Meyrargues
La Presqu'Ile Restaurant à Bédarrides Vaucluse France
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe. Châteauneuf-du-Pape
A visit to Château La Nerthe
Château d’Aqueria Tavel Southern Côtes du Rhône Rose’ 2024
This classic southern jewel is from the well known producer Marcel and Philippe Guigal. The historic estate, Château d’Aqueria actually sits between Tavel and Lirac, two appellations representing two growths of three colours produced at the domain.
Tavel was the first rosé in France to be classified, designated In 1936 when the first Appellations of Controlled Origin were established. Since then, it has become an iconic gastronomic rosé and today it is THE rosé of ‘terroir’.
The adjacent Lirac appellation lies on the right bank of the Rhône and is another jewel of the Southern Côtes du Rhône and has also been producing hugely expressive wines since ancient times.
The estate dates all the way back to 1595, when Louis Joseph d’Aqueria purchased an area in Tavel called ‘Puy Sablonneux’ from the monks of the Abbey of Villeneuve-lès-Avignon, which was particularly suited to the cultivation of vines. His son Robert d’Aqueria, a hereditary Count palatine, built a home which, in the 18th century, became the Château as we know it today. After the Count d’Aqueria, the estate pass through several families who took possession of the Château modifying it and constructing buildings as well as developing its vineyards.
In 1919, the estate was purchased by a doctor of law, Jean Olivier, who eventually passed it on to his daughters, Mireille de Bez and Nicole Boccon-Gibod. His son in law, Paul de Bez took over management followed by his grandsons Vincent and Bruno - three generations put this historically significant place on the map as a stand out property of the Tavel and Lirac appellations.
In May 2022, the well known Guigal family took over the reins from the de Bez family to become next in line of owners of the Aqueria estate who continue to preserve the history and the legacy of the people of Aqueria.
The Château’s 250 acres are planted two thirds to vineyards in the Tavel and Lirac appellations with the remainder preserved in woodland and garrique.
Château d’Aqueria Tavel is made mainly from Grenache, Syrah, Clairette and Mourvèdre, with Cinsault and Bourboulenc completing this harmonious blend of varieties.
The Lirac red wines are dominated by Grenache bolstered up by Syrah and Mourvèdre with a touch of Cinsault.
The light sandy, clay soils situated around the Château, and the Mediterranean climate produce extraordinary complex robust yet elegant full flavored wines.
The vines are an average age of 40 years old with some 70 year old plots.
The wines are aged 6 months in inox and concrete vats.
Château d’Aqueria Tavel is made mainly from Grenache, Syrah, Clairette and Mourvèdre, with Cinsault and Bourboulenc completing this harmonious blend of varieties.
The Lirac red wines are dominated by Grenache bolstered up by Syrah and Mourvèdre with a touch of Cinsault.
The light sandy, clay soils situated around the Château, and the Mediterranean climate produce extraordinary complex robust yet elegant full flavored wines.
The vines are an average age of 40 years old with some 70 year old plots.
The wines are aged 6 months in inox and concrete vats.
This was a fabulous pairing with a flight of artisan cheeses - Brie, Landmark Creamery, Belleville, Wisconsin Gouda Duet - pasteurized cow and sheep milk cheese, and Grand Cru from Roth Cheese, from Monroe, WI, with fresh sourdough bread.
.
This release is a blend of the classic designated Rhône grape varieties - 50% Grenache Noir, 20% Syrah, 10% Clairette, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Bourboulenc, 5% Cinsault. Intense blood orange ruby coloured, medium bodied, dry, firm structured, bold, full and round, complex yet elegant, bright vibrant raspberry, cherry, strawberry and pomegranate fruits with a layer of spice notes on a long acidic expressive finish.
RM 91 points.
