Provence in pictures

Domaines Ott was founded in 1912 by Alsatian agricultral engineer, Marcel Ott, who dreamed of fouding an illustrious wine estate near the Med.

New for 2016, second wine, By. Ott is made at Château de Selle’s completely new cellar. Pictured alongside estate olives.

Portrait of Jean-Francois’ great grandfather, Marcel

Mirrors reflecting to infinite, crafted from old oil drums, Villa Ott.

Budding grenache, planted two weeks ago. Vines receive some 550 hours of care per year – more than some Champagne houses.

A crop harvested as a natural fertiliser

Jean-Francois fails to brave the white-horse crested sea, lapping the shore at the foot of vineyards.

Characterful old crates sentry the cellar door, bearing a stencil of Ott’s iconic, bowling pin-like bottle. A vat ‘0’ exists in the barrel room.

Pollarded plane trees in silhouette, Villa Ott.

We enjoyed the citrus-rich Clos Mireille rosé followed by creamy, apricot-scented, subtly smokey 1990 Blanc des Blanc and saffron, marzipan and iodine-like 1986. Note, the Miss. World-like sash labels!

Piers German, director of wine merchant, Burns & German, relaxes with By.Ott at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel, unfluttered by a passing pigeon.

Bream bound for steaming on a grill fuelled by vine cuttings.

Richard Billett, Director of MMD, importer of Ott, enjoys the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 2016

Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares defeat Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo, 6-2, 6-4.

After lunch, Rafael Nadal beats Andy Murray (2-6 6-4 6-2).

We returned to Nice airport in style