2012 Chateau Paradis Red, A.O.P. Côtes de Provence

In the middle of Provence in Southeastern France lies the 50 year-old vineyard Château Paradis. The vineyard has 80 hectares, (198 acres), under vine. The soils in the vineyard include clay and chalk. White varietal grapes include: Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Vermentino, while the red grapes varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Vieux Carignan.

We received a sample of the 2012 Chateau Paradis Red, A.O.P. Côtes de Provence, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Syrah (30%) and Grenache (20%). The 13.5% alcohol wine had an opaque dark purple color with a ruby hue and rim. Red and black fruit were noticed on the aroma. The taste was reminiscent of blackberries, cherries, black raspberries, baking spices and licorice. The mouthfeel was silky. The wine was full-bodied and had bold tannins. We paired the wine with chili and were delighted by interplay of the wine and chili. The suggested retail price is $19.98.

The winery is north of Aix-en-Provence and open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM, then ope again from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

2015 Fazioli, A.O.P. Côtes de Provence from Chateau La Mascaronne

We also enjoyed a sample of wine from Chateau la Mascaronne, located outside the medieval village of Le Luc. The estate has 45 hectares of grapes (111 acres) growing on rocky limestone and clay hillsides. These vineyards were restored by Tom Bove, from Indiana, who has a love of rebuilding things. Prior to retiring into the wine industry, Tom was an engineer. He also served in the United States Navy, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

The 2015 Fazioli, A.O.P. Côtes de Provence from Chateau La Mascaronne was served with humus and a cream-cheese horseradish dip. The dark purple to black colored wine had a ruby hue. The wine was a blend of Syrah and Mourvèdre. Dark fruits were on the aroma while the taste reminded me of plums, black cherries, spices and leather. The full-bodied wine had medium/bold tannins and a silky mouthfeel. The finish was fruity with the fruit yielding to spices. The wine retails for $24.99.

We enjoyed learning and tasting the wines from Provence and hope to visit the area’s wineries some day.

Cheers,

Terry