Vineyard
Mainly on north-facing slopes, limestone soil.

Average Age
More than 50 years old (some plots are more than a hundred years old).

Varieties
Clairette 80%, grenache blanc 10%, bourboulenc 5%, ugni blanc 3%, muscat blanc 2%.

Harvest
Hand harvested, when the grapes are fully mature. Grapes sorted at the vine and in the cellar.

Vinification
Light crushing. Straining and pressing on a vertical hydraulic press. Promace reworked manually and light settling. Fermentation with native yeasts.

Storage, Maturing
In small oak casks for 18 months, 6 of them on fine lees. Matured in barrels for one year before bottling.

Eye
Chateau Simone white wines are superbly elegant. In their young years they offer a wonderful golden colour with deeper hue as they mature.

Nose
Flavours that combine floral and fruity notes with a fine woody touch.

Palate
The palate is deeply complex with minerals, herbs, pine resin, and various stone fruits. Here you see why the comparisons to Hermitage Blanc and Bordeaux Blanc seem so apt. There's also a regal stature and grandeur to the wines that places Simone Blanc in this company. They boast exceptional ageing potential. As they mature they progressively acquire complexity and deeper aromas.

Food pairing
White Wine marries beautifully with grilled fish, a lobster, a cheese platter or poultry.