Chateau D'Oupia, Minervois Rosé 2021

There is something quintessential about the association between the Languedoc and crisp, refreshing Rosé. Maybe it's the thought of soaking up all that lovely southern French sunshine whilst on holiday without a care in the world.

This dry, pale coloured but surprisingly full flavoured rosé from a tiny winery, high up in the arid hills between Narbonne and Caucasonne.

Marie-Pierre Iché now runs this iconic estate, set up by her father André Iche. Nobody would sell André any decent sized vineyards as he was an ‘outsider’ so he purchased many small, sometimes garden-sized, plots of vines. They all had one thing in common – they were full of old vines (Grenache Noir, Syrah and Cinsault) of great quality that nobody had looked after properly for decades, André took the inspired but high-risk decision to vinify every plot of grapes separately, rather than all in one big tank. His neighbours were convinced that he was losing the plot yet the attention to detail and commitment in his wines meant that Château d’Oupia is now recognised as the best estate in the region.

Nose: Mineral-tinged red berries, tangerine and a subtle floral nuance on the fragrant nose.

Palate: Silky and broad on the palate, offering bitter cherry and raspberry flavours that tighten up steadily on the back half.

ABV 13%