BACKGROUND:
Château de Selle was the first estate acquired by Marcel Ott in 1912. Located in Taradeau, near Draguignan, the estate’s soil, once home to olive, lavender, and mulberry trees, now produces highly distinguished and elegant wines. Not far from Thoronet Abbey and a former 18th-century residence of the Counts of Provence, the terrain is a mix of gypsum, red clay, dolomite, and sandstone with gravel and stone. These high limestone inland slopes are sheltered from winter frosts and benefit from a microclimate of mild winters, early springs, and warm, dry summers with plenty of sunshine.
Vines are cultivated on terraced vineyards in an environmentally respectful manner. The estate’s vines, with an average age of nineteen years, are planted across half of Château de Selle’s 345 acres. The blend includes several grape varieties: Grenache lends a full-bodied texture, Cinsault contributes a delicate and rounded touch, and Syrah imparts rich color to the wine.
The 2023 blend is composed of 55% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, 14% Mourvèdre, and 6% Syrah. The wine displays an elegant peach hue flecked with silver. The nose opens with hints of exotic fruits, followed by jasmine and white-fleshed fruit aromas, underpinned by a delicate minerality. On the palate, the wine is remarkably soft, revealing complex summer fruit flavors. Its silky texture gently evolves into a chalky, mineral finish, accentuated by a subtle hint of white pepper.
