Ott to make rosé to rival d’Esclans

Domaines Ott in Côtes de Provence is to launch a super premium rosé from Bandol to rival Château d’Esclans’ top wine Garrus.

“The wine will be made from around 70% Mourvèdre as it has the best ageing potential for rosé, and we want this wine to age,” Ott’s export manager Christophe Renard told the drinks business.

“It will be barrel fermented and aged in new French oak,” Renard added.

Renard also revealed that the domaine is working on a special botte for the limited edition release. “There will be no label,” he said.

The first vintage of Château d’Esclans – 2006 – was launched in 2007 by Sacha Lichine, son of Bordeaux pioneer Alexis Lichine.

Its top cuvée, Garrus, is the most expensive rosé in the world, priced at around £70 a bottle.

d’Esclans’ cellar master Jean Claude Neu said he would be happy and proud to see more people making ageworthy, premium rosé from Provence.

“I think we make the best and most orignal rosé in the world, but it would be a good thing for the rosé category if more people adopted similar winemaking techniques. I’d like to see more producers making “fine” rosé,” he told db.

Château Léoube

“Making premium rosé is revolutionary, and that comes at a cost,” he added.

Developments are also afoot at Château Léoube (right) in Côtes de Provence, where owner Sir Anthony Bamford, chairman of JCB limited, is to launch a sparkling rosé in time for Christmas.

The wine, made in the Champagne method from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, will be available in the UK through Bamford’s farmshop chain Daylesford Organic.

“We’ve had a lot of demand for a sparkler from the market. It’s outside the guidlines of the AOC, so we’re using a grape outside the guidlines in Cabernet Sauvignon,” Léoube’s winemaker Romain Ott, of the Ott winemaking family, told db.

Ott predicts around 2,500 bottles will be made in the estate’s first vintage this year.