The basis of this wine lies in the Southern Rhône, where sun, wind, and soil combine to produce white wines with character.
- Location / Origin: The grapes come from small winegrowers in the Rhône Valley who have worked with Maison Brotte for many years. This firmly places this wine within the broad Côtes du Rhône appellation, within a region that extends approximately 200 km along both banks of the Rhône.
- Soil: Brotte selects vineyards here on alluvial clay soils with abundant sunshine. This combination helps achieve ripe fruit and sufficient breadth in the wine.
- Climate & influences: In the southern part of the Rhône, a Mediterranean climate predominates with dry summers and winters. The mistral plays an important role here, as this wind quickly removes moisture and keeps the vineyards healthy.
- Vineyard & harvest: In the vineyard, Brotte works with sustainable cultivation, strict winter pruning, green harvesting, and leaf removal to limit yields. Harvesting is done manually when the grapes are optimally ripe.
In the cellar, Brotte opts for an approach that precisely balances freshness and texture.
- Harvest & Selection: The grapes are immediately and gently pneumatically pressed at low pressure. This helps to keep the must pure and refined from the very first moment.
- Fermentation: After cold settling for 1 night at 10 °C, the wine ferments in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks at 16–18 °C. This cool fermentation preserves the fresh fruit expression and keeps the aromatics clear and precise.
- Aging / Oak aging: There is no malolactic fermentation, so the wine retains its lively freshness. This is followed by 6 months of aging on fine lees with regular bâtonnage in stainless steel, which provides extra roundness and texture without overpowering the fruit.
The blend is classic Southern Rhône, with Grenache Blanc as the main driving force and aromatic support from Clairette and Viognier.
- Grenache Blanc – Côtes du Rhône: Grenache Blanc forms the base here and gives the wine its ripe core, soft entry, and the recognizable combination of citrus and exotic fruit.
- Clairette – Côtes du Rhône: Clairette brings extra refinement to the blend and supports the wine's fresh, floral character.
- Viognier – Côtes du Rhône: Viognier provides additional aromatic breadth, with notes leaning towards peach and white flowers.
