Château Vignelaure - Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence 2018

A sensitive and pragmatic man in his committed choices, Philippe Bru, director of operations, is one of the region’s most endearing figures. He has crafted a trilogy of impeccable color. This unique estate has been writing some of the finest chapters in Provençal viticulture since the 1970s. Cabernet Sauvignon thrives here, on nearly equal footing with Syrah. A clay-limestone soil moderates the rare bouts of excessive heat. A vertical tasting dating back to 1975 has demonstrated the immense consistency and quality—still too often underestimated—of Vignelaure’s wines.

The 2018 vintage is a standout—all indicators are in the green: color, aromas, texture, and elegance. Naturally, this great age-worthy wine isn't ready yet.

This estate, with its prestigious history, has been owned by Bengt Sundstrom of Sweden since 2007. Together with Philippe Bru, the technical director, they bring out the best in the character of this high-altitude (350 to 480 meters) clay-limestone terroir by optimizing this now-mature vineyard, which has undergone a major renewal phase. This explains, among other things, the creation of entry-level cuvées vinified for early drinking (Le Page and La Source in rosé and red). The vertical tasting, which went all the way back to the magnificent 1985 vintage, attests to the longevity of these wines. The reds have long deserved the star for their exhilarating aging potential, and the whites are gaining in elegance, as are the orange wine and the sweet wine. That leaves the rosé, but it’s not the specialty here. This in no way calls into question the well-deserved award of the star.