2018 Chateau des Demoiselles Cotes de Provence 750 ml

An Under-$20 Provence Rosé That Is Absolutely Singing

After the Château des Demoiselles Côtes de Provence sold out this spring, garnering rave reviews like “loved it—light and refreshing,” “excellent value,” and “wish I could buy more,” we became determined to see the source of this gorgeous value rosé for ourselves. So on our last trip to France, we threw out our itinerary and took a detour to Provence, and the charming Château des Demoiselles estate and B&B. 

Underneath an azure blue sky, the Demoiselles Château was everything we imagined and more—to our left and right stretched rows of vines rooted in brick-red soils of clay and limestone, poor but well-draining. The southern sun was beating down hot, but relieved by the brisk, cooling gusts of the Mistral. It’s no wonder the Esclans Valley makes some of the world’s greatest rosés. 

A brilliant salmon hue in the glass, the Demoiselles bursts with peach, strawberry, and floral aromatics, and finishes with the vibrant energy that defines Provence rosé. 

Château des Demoiselles is not only in the legendary Esclans Valley, but it sits in the appellation’s most prestigious area, just a stone’s throw from where Château d’Esclans produces the world-famous Whispering Angel and their $100-per-bottle Garrus rosé. Here in the iconic heart of Provence, elemental conditions lend themselves to the freshness, concentration, and fragrant aromatics that make for some of the world’s greatest rosés.

Since Château des Demoiselles boasts such advantageous terroir, a lot of the work was done when Bernard Teillaud purchased the 740-acre estate in 2005. But the work continues on the crush pad and in the cellar, where meticulous pains are taken to transform the estate’s supremely concentrated grapes into a rosé of mouthwatering freshness.

The grapes are picked at night, to prevent coloring and oxidation. They are gently pressed, then cold-stabilized and allowed to settle for eight days, preserving the purity of fruit and aromatic clarity of the wine. Aging on the lees in stainless steel enhances body while retaining energy, and bottling occurs in an inert environment as a final safeguard against oxidation.

What results is the epitome of Provence rosé: a salmon-pink wine that boasts generous red and stone fruit, buzzes with energy, and is seasoned by the sea spray and cleansed by the constant Provençal breeze. No matter the season, the 2018 Château des Demoiselles Rosé Côtes de Provence is the quintessential French rosé: fragrant, juicy, fresh, and crisp.