Villa Minna Vineyard - Minna Vineyard 2010

Anise-scented on the nose with a hint of yellow fruit; the finish is lively and smooth—this is a white wine that pairs well with red mullet.

Located between Aix and Salon-de-Provence, this 15-hectare estate lies along the Via Aurelia. The vineyards are naturally grassed, treatments are kept to a minimum, and herbicides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers are strictly prohibited. The grapes are harvested by hand and transported in small crates.

The nose displays remarkable clarity, revealing notes of lemon and mandarin—crystalline—along with an earthy depth reminiscent of juniper. A very noble balance on the palate, with a crystalline profile featuring subtle notes of quince and citron zest. Simply excellent.

The vineyard is located between Aix and Salon-de-Provence, on limestone soils. Short pruning, debudding, soil cultivation, and hand-harvesting; winemaking in small batches using native yeasts, with a little oak aging to allow the wines to develop their aromas over 24 months. That, in a nutshell, is the special care given to this “Vin de Pays”!

In 2010, the white wine is flavorful and even recalls the creaminess we noted in the 2009 vintage.

This estate was taken over in 1999 by Minna and Jean-Paul Luc. Located in Saint-Cannat, the 15 hectares are planted with Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Mourvèdre, as well as Vermentino (or Rolle), Roussanne, and Marsanne for white wines. In the process of converting to organic farming since 2009 (the first certified vintage will be 2012), the vineyard is meticulously tended, with short pruning resulting in low yields on poor, limestone-rich soil. Winemaking in small vessels and aging in Bordeaux barrels produce wines of great structure, offering plenty of style and personality—far removed from any technological character. The aging process is also notably long! In fact, the reds are not released until five years after bottling, and the whites until three years. All of the estate’s wines benefit from extended aeration; decanting can only enhance them.