Château Simone

Château Simone is an undisputed point of reference for the oenology of Provence, a wine cellar that throughout its long history has succeeded like few others in bringing out the qualitative potential of the terroir. The magnificent Château, located in the commune of Meyreuil, was for a long time owned by the monks of Grands Carmes d'Aix, while since 1830 it has been in the hands of the Rougier family. The link between the estate and viticulture, however, is much more remote. A fundamental contribution to the success of the Domaine is to be attributed to Jean Rougier, the fourth oenological generation of the family, whose efforts led to the recognition of the AOC Palette in 1948, the appellation under which the wines of the winery are still labelled today. The ageing rooms date back to the 16th century and consist of a series of underground tunnels dug by the monks of Grands Carmes d'Aix, subsequently extended by different generations of the Rougier family. In these rooms, the constant temperature and humidity throughout the year, as well as the absence of light and noise, allow the wines to evolve harmoniously.

The range of grape varieties cultivated by Château Simone is as rich and varied as ever, consisting of Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Syrah, Castet, Manosquin and Carignan among the red grapes, and Clairette, Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Ugni Blanc and Muscat Blanc among the white varieties. All these vines, cultivated without the use of insecticides and chemical herbicides, grow in old vineyards planted on rocky soils rich in limestone and clay, which benefit from a cool northern exposure. The microclimate is the result of proximity to the Montaiguet massif, which protects the area from the winds, and the mitigating influence of both the Arc river and sea breezes from the Mediterranean Sea. Harvesting is done by hand with a double selection of the bunches, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, followed by traditional vinification of the grapes with spontaneous fermentation at a controlled temperature. Only wooden barrels of different capacities and passages are then used for the ageing phase, capable of enhancing the qualities of the terroir without masking it.

There are three labels that characterise Château Simone's selection: a red wine, a rosé and a white, all falling under the Palette AOC. These are elegant and mineral expressions, endowed with an uncommon longevity, whether Palette Rouge, Palette Blanc or Palette Rosé, the latter an example of the level of quality that even the rosé category can achieve.