Prior to the French revolution, Chauteau du Rouët was owned by the Marquis de Villeneuve, who supplied Louis XVI's court with wine. Louis XVI was nicknamed Louis le Dernier or Louis the Last as he was the only king of France to be executed. Suspended and later arrested during the August insurrection, he was tried by the National Convention where he was found guilty of treason and guillotined in January 1793. Since the French revolution the property has been owned by the Rouët family. The Château was built in 1880 and it used to be the center of an extremely large property that covered more than 900 Hectares of natural forest that ran along the southern slopes of the Esterel hills. Lumber was once the prime product of the estate, however, today the production of wine is at the forefront. Although the first vines were planted at Rouët in the 18th Century, it was only after a forest fire in 1927 that destroyed the family's holdings that the current vineyards were laid out. The vines-mostly Syrah and Grenache-were planted in narrow strips, approximately 1 kilometer in length, to act as firebreaks. The Esterel hills protect rural Provence from the ravages of coastal over-development that have ruined much of the Cote d'Azur. The climate is warm and dry-Mediterranean to the very core-with some evening cooling influences from the nearby hills. The soil in the vineyards consists mainly of gravel washed down from the Esterel mountain range, volcanic in origin-and thus somewhat acidic-lending the wine it's natural acidity. A blend of 50% Carignan, 20% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 10% Tibourenc, this rosé is made by the saigné method, which means that the juice is run-off after a short maceration on the grape skins. The wine rests in temperature controlled stainless-steel vats for eight months before it is bottled and released.

Château du Rouët, is the setting of outstanding natural beauty, the Savatier family make wines that capture all the joys of living in this earthly paradise and their rosé effortlessly distills the very essence of Provence - the summer sun in a clear blue sky, fresh fruit from the farmer's market, wild herbs growing by the side of the road - and no matter where a bottle of this rosé is opened, the palate is immediately transported to an idyllic summer holiday. Silky scents of blushing cotton candy, apple blossom and boysenberry lifted by gentle tones of warm candied apple and crushed strawberry. This pink temptress has a creamy mouth-feel with elegant peach nectar, guava paste and tart citrus flavors coasting along a bed of wet stones that linger in pools of delightful mineral complexities. Deeply nuanced and surprisingly rich-this quenchingly dry, mineral-drenched rosé treats us with its generously slurpable yet serious attributes. Treat this as more than simply an aperitif or summer quaffer. This is a formidably rich rosé that pairs wonderfully with hearty garden salads, fish, shrimp or a wide range of grilled chicken or pork dishes.

—Donald