2005 Cotes de Provence Rosé Commanderie de Peyrassol

The name of the estate is the first indication of its long, illustrious past. Located in the heart of Provence, near routes traveled by Crusaders in the early Middle Ages, the Commanderie de Peyrassol was founded by the Knights of Templar who were dedicated to protecting the Crusaders en route to, and in, the Holy Land. The first recorded harvest took place in 1256 and winemaking has continued uninterrupted throughout the centuries. When the Templars were brought down in 1311 by the King of France, the Knights of Malta became the owners of the Commanderie. They remained in control, flawlessly maintaining the vineyards until the French Revolution, when it was taken over by the State. The Rigord family purchased the estate in 1870. The current proprietor, Francoise Rigord, has been making the wines at Peyrassol since 1981 and has now been joined by her son, Francois. The Rigords are extremely conscientious about the surrounding environment and the delicate balance of the local Mediterranean ecosystem. They use no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or fungicides in their vineyards. This beautiful rosé is made from a blend of syrah, grenache, cinsault and the fine, local, ancient grape tibouren, which gives special elegance. The grapes undergo cold maceration before being pressed. This gives the wine its watermelon pink color. The fermentation takes place under controlled temperatures, and is exceptionally long, resulting in a rosé that is both lively, fresh and full-bodied.