These are exceptional rosé wines from the house of Courtade. And they are produced in an exceptional place: the island of Porquerolles, an earthly paradise off the coast of Provence in the bluest waters of the Mediterranean Sea. This is Provençal wine at its finest. And at its most organic. Created in 1983 by Henri Vidal, the house was purchased by French businessman and patron of the arts Edouard Carmignac in 2014 who brought on board the oenologue Florent Audibert, the son and grandson of winemakers. While the estate was one of the very first in Provence to be certified organic, Florent Audibert has put the winery on the holistic path of biodynamic agriculture aiming for certification in the coming years. « Tomorrow we want to become one of the flagships of sustainable wine growing in Provence, by bringing together modern and ancestral techniques, » he recently commented.

The Domaine La Courtade wine estate today produces fine rosé wines that are recognized for their high quality and reputed for their finesse, crispness and the great taste of the good earth of their vineyards. The house has recently brought out two grand rosés both 2022 vintages: Les Terrasses de la Courtade and La Courtade.

Left: La Courtade Organic 2022. Right: Les Terrasses de la Courtade 2022. Photos courtesy Domaine Courtade. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

Les Terrasses de la Courtade 2022 is an organic wine that reveals the good earth of the island of Porquerolles which permeates the wine imparting upon it its mineralogy and crispness. It has an interesting blend of grape varieties with Grenache dominating at 56% followed by Cinsault at 25%, Syrah at 15%, Rolle at 2.5% an Tibouren at 1.5%. Tibouren is a powerfully aromatic red French wine grape variety grown in Provence but which probably originated in Greece or even the Middle East. The taste of Les Terrasses is sun-drenched, elegant with a touch of salinity. Perfect as an aperitif, it can accompany fish carpaccio or sushi or the local specialty of stuffed vegetable. The La Courtade Organic 2022 is a gastronomic rosé that has been brought out in a limited edition of just 5,000 bottles. The wine was barrel-aged and then aged on lees or sediments that add extra aromas to the wine. This is a complex rosé that stands up to hearty meat dishes like Provencal-style lamb or rich-tasting  sea urchins. 

Porquerlloes is one of the three Îles d’Hyères often called the Golden Isles and is reached by a 10-minute boat ride from the French coastal city of Hyères . Most of the island has been set aside as a National Park to preserve its unique natural environment. The Courtade wine estate can be visited. ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette. https://lacourtade.com/index?langue=en