A Grand Cru from Provence at Château des Ferrages

In the heart of Provence, a wine region well known for its rosé wines, some treasures are sometimes well hidden: Premium whites and reds that have their place on a beautiful wine list, alongside prestigious appellations better known to wine lovers.

I’d like to come back to one of my favorites of the year 2022. This one is a great white wine produced halfway between Aix-en-Provence and Saint-Maximin, on one of the most qualitative terroirs of the Sainte-Victoire Mountain vineyard, in the hinterland of the Phocaean city - Marseille.

This is the story of a vineyard located in the village of Pourcieux, at the foot of the Mont Aurélien hill. The hill slopes are crossed by a stony path that the winegrowers wished to pay tribute.

During the World War II, this path was taken at nightfall by nurses going to treat the resistance fighters who were hiding in the surroundings. The resistance fighters were fighting against the local administration, rules by the Germans. So the owners of Château des Ferrages called this plot of vines “les infirmières” - French translation for "the nurses".

These are vines of the clairette grape variety for white wines, as well as Syrah and Grenache vines for red wines. At this particular location, the vines lay on a clay-silt and clay-limestone base: great terroirs for the production of Premium wines.

The Château des Ferrages now belongs to the Chapoutier Estate, bringing all its know-how and expertise in viticulture and winemaking. The cuvée “Les infirmières” is made 100% from the Clairette grape variety, a typical grape from the South of France which expresses itself wonderfully in a Mediterranean climate. Clairette gives fairly rich but often well-balanced dry white wines with a saline and tangy finish. Before bottling, this wine has been aged for several months in oak barrels to give it suppleness and aromatic complexity.

It’s a wine that Burgundy chardonnays lovers enjoy a lot. There are notes of stone fruits, grilled almonds, flowers, lime blossom, with a slight bitterness and of course a lot of freshness on the finish.

It is a wine to pair with semi-cooked foie gras toast, asparagus velouté, pan-fried scallops, many fishes, and that can be also enjoyed on a nice plate of cheese.

I took great pleasure in tasting the 2019 vintage, which can be left to age for a few more years. The wine will then develop slightly truffled aromas and gain in “fat”.

Château des Ferrages, Côtes de Provence blanc 2019

To discover this beautiful wine, go to the "Vente Privé" menu, there might still be a few bottles left. ! Click here.