The wine import, sales and marketing company Quintessential has added the Côtes de Provence wineries Chateau Roubine and Chateau Sainte-Beatrice to their roster.
Both are owned by Provencal Vigneron Valerie Rousselle.
Château Roubine lies in the heart of the Var, in Cotes de Provence, between Verdon and the Mediterranean. The land that Rousselle bought in 1994 now extends to over 200 hectares, with 90 of them planted to 13 different French varietals on chalky, clay-limestone soil. It is one of only 14 wineries in the region with the “Cru Classe” designation, bestowed on those whose wines are recognized at a higher level of quality.
Nearby is Chateau Sainte-Beatrice, in existence nearly 40 years, with vines between 30 and 60 years old that cover over 50 hectares in a mix of noble red grapes, including grenache, syrah, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cinsault, as well as semillon, vermentino and rolle white varietals.
The first Chateau Roubine Rose to be sold in the U.S. by Quintessential is La Rose: a light salmon-colored blend of grenache, cinsault and syrah. The aromas, particularly from the grenache, begin with grass clippings and grapevine flowers, the company says, and evolve into additional floral hints. The 2018 vintage will be available in the U.S. this May, with a suggested retail price of $23.99 per 750-ml. bottle.
