Palette

Located very close to Aix-en-Provence, a tiny 23-hectare vineyard produces Palette wines. Across these 23 hectares, a very small number of estates cultivate some 25 different grape varieties to produce exceptional wines. The estate spans part of the municipalities of Meyreuil and Le Tholonet, as well as a small portion of the municipality of Aix-en-Provence. The appellation, recognized by decree on April 28, 1948, owes its name to the hamlet of Palette, located in the center of a cirque of the same name, 4 km east of Aix-en-Provence. Among the appellation’s oldest estates, Château Simone deserves special mention.

The terroir of the Palette appellation lies on the lacustrine limestones of Langesse and Montaiguet. The Palette vineyard is found exclusively on soils made uniform by limestone scree—that is, on thin, stony, skeletal soils. The Palette vineyard is protected from northerly winds by the Langesse and Grand Cabri hills, but via the Arc Valley, it is exposed to west/northwest winds. The predominantly northern exposure almost always necessitates a late harvest.

Palette’s red and rosé wines are made primarily from the Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault grape varieties. Carignan, Syrah, Manosquin, Durif, Muscat Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Castet are used as secondary grape varieties. For white wines, Clairette yields the best results, complemented by other grape varieties common to the region. Palette’s average production is 1,300 hectoliters, of which approximately 40% is red, 40% is white, and 20% is rosé.