Following the runaway success of Mathieu’s Syrah, they have introduced a pink and here it is. It’s a light rosé made from a blend of Syrah and Grenache. Fermentation in French oak barrels, aging in concrete tanks. Very, very low sulphur levels mean the colour is not as light as some, but it’s lovely and fruity, goes great with tapas and a mere 12% alc. What’s not to like?

Diane and Mathieu’s estate borders the Languedoc and the southern Rhône (and also Provence) so some wines feel very Occitane, others very Rhône-y. For example her pure expression of Grenache (Castel Nou) is a homage to Chateauneuf du Pâpe, whilst ‘Les Cimels’ red has more of a Languedoc feel. ‘Les Cimels’ Rosé could be from Provence. Les Cimels Red was the very first wine we brought to the UK, and which inspired us to set up The Real Wine Company. The 2001 vintage. I have kept a bottle for posterity (long since empty of wine, of course). Diane had taken over a failing estate which was over-producing huge quantities of dilute, boring wines which were helping to fill the EU Wine Lake. Diane set about restoring these beautiful old vineyards to restrict the quantities and improve the quality in direct inverse proportion. First of all, they got the quality right, then they got on with conversion to organic and bio-dynamic status which all their wines now are. The château name comes from the family crest which is Gold and Red.