Château Minuty

PRODUCER: Château Minuty 
REGION: Provence, France
FOUNDER/WINEMAKER: Gabriel Farnet, Jean-Etienne & François Matton

WINERY HISTORY 

Château Minuty has been a famous name in Provence since it was built in the mid-1800s, but when it was taken over by Gabriel Farnet (grandfather of the current owners) in 1936, it quickly became recognised as one of the region’s benchmark properties. Entirely replanted following the conclusion of WWII, this status was reaffirmed in 1955 when Minuty became one of just 23 Châteaux in Provence to be designated Cru Classé. Throughout the following decades, a focus on propagating local varieties and limiting yields led to further increase in quality and prestige. Current proprietors Jean-Etienne and François assumed control in the 1990s, with their arduous work ensuring Minuty remains enshrined in the highest echelon of rosé. 


VITICULTURE & WINEMAKING 

The vineyards of Minuty are found across the exposed, rolling hillsides of Gassin and Ramatuelle, which overlook the Gulf of Saint-Tropez. Benefiting from the effects of a temperate, maritime climate, the vineyards of Minuty span a number of terroir. 65ha surround the property, entirely planted on a single block of limestone-schist soils. Another 125ha are found on the clay-limestone soils surrounding Vidauban, with an additional 15ha on the slopes of Val de Rian filling out the holdings. The vineyards of primarily planted with Grenache, which is blended with small amounts of Tibouren to craft Minuty's acclaimed rosés. Smaller quantities of Rolle (Vermentino), Syrah, and Mourvèdre are planted for the production of white and red wines, respectively. 

The vineyards are cultivated in a sustainable manner, focusing on the use of organic matter and avoidance of herbicides or pesticides. Bordering protected woodland, the vineyards of Minuty exist in a healthy, salutary environment. Harvest is performed entirely by hand, making Minuty one of few properties in Provence continuing to preserve this arduous practice. Done to ensure the integrity and quality of the fruit, manual harvests help differentiate Minuty in what can often be an over-saturated Provençal rosé market. Following harvest, Minuty expertly craft their wines in an ultra-modern cellar equipped to use the newest techniques, such as Pressurage.

Pressurage, a particularly distinctive technique, involves taking the first free-run juice that is released by loading the press with the grapes. The weight of the fruit is enough to bring about a light pressing and this premium juice is run off to be fermented separately, yielding a rosé wine with sumptuous texture and elegance. The ‘M’ de Minuty Rosé (in its world famous curved bottle) is made using 70% pressurage direct, while the ‘Rose et Or’ cuvée is made solely from this technique, truly a rosé wine to rival any in the world.

Although 70% of production is given over to their rosé wines, there are also some excellent whites and a rich, silky red. These are serious, complex wines that are perfectly suited to the cuisine of the region and a permanent fixture on the most prestigious wine lists of the Côte d’Azur.

GRAPE VARIEITIES

Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Rolle (Vermentino), Ugni Blanc

Products

Our selection of wines from Château Minuty