Since 2012, Château Cavalier, nestled in Vidauban in the heart of Provence’s Argens Valley, has been passionately committed to environmentally friendly viticulture. Certified Terra Vitis and Haute Valeur Environnementale, the estate exclusively employs organic fertilizers, dedicates 27% of its land to agro-ecological initiatives to foster biodiversity, and has embraced eco-grazing practices.
This careful approach to vineyard stewardship has enabled the creation of remarkable wines, such as the recently launched Grand Blanc 2023. This new white joins the estate’s acclaimed Rosé within the DGC Notre Dame des Anges in Côtes de Provence. Sheltered by the Massif des Maures and the foothills of the Haut-Var Alps, this unique terroir has become the birthplace of an artisanal wine, crafted with dedication by the estate’s talented team.
Leading this ambitious project are Philippe Castel, co-owner and manager; Lucas Puyo, vineyard manager; Léa Mazubert, technical director for the Castel family properties; and renowned oenologist Jean Natoli, known for his expertise in Provence and Languedoc. Together, they have brought forth a gastronomic white wine that captivates with its aromatic complexity and originality.
The Grand Blanc 2023 comes from three meticulously selected hectares within the estate’s 138 hectares and grows on sandy-loam and clay-sandy soils with a sublayer of sandstone. This blend of Rolle (40%), Semillon (40% as a nod to the Castel family’s Bordeaux roots), and Clairette (20%) is crafted to achieve a delicate balance, offering a refined minerality thanks to the terroir. Night harvesting preserves the grapes’ freshness, and Château Cavalier employs precise vinification techniques, with partial aging in acacia and oak barrels and demi-muids for five months with regular lees stirring. This meticulous process reveals the Grand Blanc’s intense aromas, with elegant notes of pear, white peach, flowering boxwood, yuzu, and a subtle hint of curry.
The Château Cavalier Grand Blanc presents a pale, crystalline hue. It delights the palate with a balance of freshness and creaminess, culminating in a lingering saline finish. Perfect with refined dishes like salt-crusted sea bass, roasted turbot with beurre blanc, lobster with coral emulsion, or veal filet with morels, it also pairs wonderfully with gratinéed oysters, ideal for holiday gatherings or sophisticated restaurant menus. Despite its high-end profile, this limited edition is produced in just 3,993 bottles—don’t miss out!
Photo : Château Cavalier
A Chigny-les-Roses, village de la montagne de Reims, Arnaud et Sophie Gounel
