Jane and Hugh Faulkner purchased their special little corner of Provence back in 1989. In the foothills of Massif des Maures, surrounded by pine, olive trees, and ancient stone terraces, the Faulkners transformed an ancient manor house and its 24 hectares into Le Grand Cros. With their son, Julian, now at the helm, the Faulkner family has upgraded the winery with state-of-the-art technology, but they still craft their wines traditionally with respect for the glorious terroir. Touted as one of the most technologically advanced producers in Provence, the Faulkners farm their vineyards with environmentally sustainable practices and also utilize infrared cameras and a weather station to keep a 24-hour watch on their vines. Nevertheless, they hand-harvest, maintain low yields and tend their fruit with traditional methods and reverence for their unique microclimate.

 

This blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Rolle and 5% Cinsault is vinified separately. The fruit enjoys short, climate-controlled skin contact then is pressed and separated early from the must. Fermentation is temperature-controlled then followed by racking and blockage of malolactic. The wine is racked 4-5 times, fined, stabilized and filtered before bottling. The result is a charming rosé that drinks well above its price point. As previously mentioned, the most serious examples of Provençal rosé are more approachable after a year and are built to last. The best rosé I have ever tasted was a 1991 Bandol from Domaine de Terrebrune that was simply unforgettable! With proper storage, this wine has a bright future and a remarkable treasure in store for you.