2023 Lavau Rosé, Tavel AOC, Rhône Valley, France (750ml)

ROSÉ WINE CLUB SELECTION

The story of the Lavau family and its passion for wine began in Saint-Émilion in the nineteenth century; it continued in Tunisia, where René Lavau and his son transformed a small estate of vines and orange trees into a flourishing business which became the country's biggest wine producer. Jean-Guy Lavau (René's grandson) and his wife Anne-Marie returned to France in the 1960s and acquired a small winery in Sablet, at the heart of the Rhône Valley, founding Maison Lavau in 1965. In 2000, Frédéric and Benoît Lavau joined the family business, further establishing Maison Lavau as a respected producer, building a new cellar in Violès, and purchasing several vineyards in the Rasteau, Valréas and Côtes-du-Rhône appellations. In 2013, they partnered with Bénédicte and Charles Bonnet, owners of Château Maucoil in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The foursome has managed to remain one of the last independent, family-run wine estates in the Rhône Valley. With its three winemaking cellars and 140 hectares of vines, Maison Lavau continues to produce distinctive wines from the most emblematic appellations of the region.

Situated between the renowned ‘Pont d’Avignon’ and ‘Pont du Gard’ bridges, the Tavel appellation is unique in that it only produces rosé wines. The vines are cultivated across three different terroirs, contributing further to its distinctive complexity. The 2023 Lavau rosé is a blend of 50% Grenache, 45% Cinsault and 5% Syrah from vines that average 30-years-old. Night harvesting ensured the grapes remained cool during transportation to the cellar. The grapes were promptly pressed to temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats for vinification. Each varietal was fermented separately; malolactic fermentation was halted, and the blend was assembled and further aged in stainless steel before bottling at the end of the year.

Bright pink in the glass. Aromas of strawberry tart and berry coulis. The palate is fresh with flavors of wild strawberries, raspberries and ripe watermelon; pleasantly fruity with gentle acidity and lip-licking finish.