2019 Château Simone Palette Blanc

Community Tasting Notes (11) Avg Score: 90.9 points

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  4/26/2024 - shemmy wrote:

  Many treasures in this life are hidden in plain sight. The South of France is a place where wine is as common as air. Few vignerons in the region make the artful vintage that transcends the everyday table, But the ones that do make a drink that is a sublime expression of the region are some of the best wines in the country.
  
  Located just two and a half miles outside of Aix-en-Provence, in the tiny AOC of Palette, Château Simone is one such hidden trove of growers, the Rougier family having been quietly making wine for two centuries. The vineyards here are a north-facing limestone amphitheater, a sloping bowl on the edge of Mont. St-Victoire. An herb-scented grove of pines surrounds the vines, protecting them from the ferocity of the mistral and accentuating the biodiversity of the grounds. The Arc River runs through the château, cooling the air and adding the final ideal factor contributing to fruit that is rich and flavorful. Jean-François Rougier is the seventh generation vigneron running the show at Château Simone, following traditions begun by his great-grandfather, Jean. Jean (the great- grandfather) took cuttings from old vines (selection massale) after the Phylloxera blight and planted them, tending to them organically decades before the practice was common. Some of the vines here are almost 100 years old, their fruit lending to the gravitas and old soul of some of France’s most timeless wines.
  
  FOOD PAIRING
  classic brandade
  
  SERVICE NOTES
  The white wines of Chateau Simone are not to be overlooked. We love serving these wines, if you have the patience, with substantial age (10-15 years). You will get a complex and cerebral vinous experience. Take it out of refridgeration 30 minutes before pouring into a medium glass.
  
  VARIETY
  clairette, grenache blanc, ugni blanc

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  1/4/2024 - Philolesen Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Very rich and creamy wine with good complexity. Tropical, herbal, grapefruit and lingering acidity on the palate. This opened up nicely and became a lot better after 20-30 minutes or so in the glass. I would open this 1-2 hours prior to serving. Overall a wonderful wine, but I sense it has the backbone to become even better in the next 3-5 years.
  90p+

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  5/26/2023 - Peraix wrote: 89 Points

  There is first a faint but unpleasant bitter taste of endive. Drinking temperature under 10C is necessary to conceal this in it's youth. I also find some grapefruit. While the 2018 is round, very different in style and ready to drink today this bottle requires some years of developement to be a better wine. The salty aftertaste is long and complex.

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  5/2/2023 - Eric Wright Likes this wine: 92 Points

  On the nose, rich and nutty. Subtle lemon. Grass and hay. A bit herbal.
  The palate is light because the acid is ripping. Nutty, almond bitterness. Medium finish. Delicious

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  2/24/2023 - Eric Becker wrote: 89 Points

  At restaurant Les Avisés in Avize. Having had the 2015 of this wine one year ago at the same restaurant and being joined by a namesake of the wine today, this was an easy choice. However, while this is aromatically interesting with pine-needles, honey, nail polish remover and discrete notes of tropical fruits, the palate-feel is too heavy for comfort as is the alcohol (14 AVB). If I had bottles of this I would let them shed some baby-fat and revisit in 2025+.

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