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WITH ROSÉ SEASON WELL UNDERWAY, THE DISH CAUGHT UP WITH CHATEAU MINUTY, THE PROVENCAL ROSÉ THAT’S IN EVERYONE’S GLASSES THIS SUMMER.
Just one at glance at the 2018 limited edition bottle will have you Googling flights to Cotes d’Azur… as the M by Minuty bottle is covered in beautiful artwork by British designer Ruby Taylor, inspired by Summer in St Tropez.
The family estate is today managed by François and Jean-Etienne Matton – the third generation of the family.
Chateau Minuty was originally purchased in 1936 (by the grandfather of today’s owners). Over the years, more land has been purchased with the expansion and reconstruction of the vineyards, meaning we are able to greatly improve the wines we offer.
Provence, more precisely on the Saint-Tropez peninsula (85 km west of Cannes, 135 km west of Monaco). Its vineyards now occupy over 180 hectares across two sites.
We harvest by hand, so this allows us to get that distinctive pale salmon colour. We use mainly free run juices which gives Minuty wine a high freshness and crispiness. We also choose to harvest earlier, to get light wines in alcohol (12.5°) whilst getting a nice acidity. We don’t oak our wines, as we just want to get the expression of the fruit without any wood tannins or oxidation. We also have a tint of salinity, as some of our vineyards are close to the sea.
Tell us about the characters of Minuty rose wine? What should we pair it with?
Minuty wines have strong aromas of white peach and grapefruit. They are extremely expressive while being very light. Our wines go perfectly with the food of Provence. We are on the Mediterranean and close to Italy, so seafood, fruits and dishes such as bouillabaisse, pissaladière, tapenade and aioli. Our rosés pair very well with oysters and Asian dishes too.
What do you say to people that believe rosé is more of a female drink?
It’s true, yes that the trend of rosé wines was launched by women, but this is no longer just a female drink. It’s now seen as a lifestyle beverage for many occasions, everybody is drinking rosé and especially the millennials who like their fresh and crisp wines.
Other than Minuty wines, do you have any other go-to favourites?
I love white burgundy: Montrachet, Meursault, Chablis and Corton Charlemagne. These terroirs know how to transcend chardonnay like anywhere else.
Other than getting to drink great wines, are there any other perks of your job?
I like travelling all over the world and see people having fun and pleasure with my wines. I like meeting great chefs and helping to create special gastronomical moments. I also have a collection of amazing sunsets in paradise islands with a glass of Minuty of course!
If you haven’t tried Chateau Minuty yet, head over to Le Pont de la Tour’s Maison du Rosé, South Place Hotel’s Rosé Riviera and Plateau for their St Tropez brunch.