2025 Chateau Pigoudet - Coteaux d'Aix en Provence Rose Premiere (750ml)

Château Pigoudet sits in the mountainous northeastern corner of the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence appellation, an area shielded from the region's fierce Mistral winds by nearby Mont Vautubière. The property dates back to the sixteenth century, though its modern chapter began in 1992 when German owners Bernhard and Elke Schmidt purchased the estate. It remains family-run today, with a new generation overseeing roughly one hundred acres of vineyards planted at around four hundred meters in elevation.

The Première Rosé blends Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from vines averaging thirty-five years old, farmed with sustainable methods and benefiting from full southern exposure at altitude. The wine is made using the saignée technique, drawing off juice early in the maceration process, and ferments with natural yeasts in temperature-controlled tanks to preserve its pale color and delicate aromatics.

In the glass, the wine shows a barely-there pink hue with faint bluish reflections. The nose brings white peach, apricot and lychee, while the palate turns brighter still with wild strawberry, watermelon, rose petal and citrus zest layered over subtle herbal and mineral undertones. Light and refreshing, it suits a Niçoise salad, fresh goat cheese or simply grilled vegetables on a warm afternoon.