Catch a Simone Rouge from the right vintage, and you’ll encounter class, subtlety, and lift that’s completely unique for Provence.
There's something indisputably noble and singular about Simone's entire range. And when their rouge is on, it's explosive and elegant, sweeping away notions about what wine from Provence can be.
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The 2020 Château Simone Rouge is such a vintage. It's an especially open and expressive vintage for the wine. The energy, refinement, and aromatics of Simone Rouge are in their full glory in this wine. I tasted the 2020 Rouge on the same day that I tasted the 2021 Blanc, which we offered a few weeks ago. The intention was to pick one of the two for an offer. However, they were both so good that they each demanded an offer.
I'm not sure that we've seen a vintage of Simone Rouge hitting on all cylinders like the 2020. Given the wine's harmony and Simone's track record for aging, the 2020 seems poised to show brilliantly for at least the next decade.
In his book, The New France, Andrew Jefford writes that “the Simone vineyards are unusual in every respect.” Simone is located in the small, obscure limestone-dominated appellation of Palette (it totals a mere 35ha) just north of Aix-en-Provence in the heart of Provence. Though there’s another producer or two, Château Simone, which has been in the hands of the Rouget family for seven generations, rules the Palette appellation. The vineyards face north, a rarely-seen exposition. Compared to the rest of sun-soaked Provence, the north-facing vineyards give Simone's wines shocking poise and finesse. Another unusual aspect is the cépage. Along with Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan, and Cabernet Sauvignon, you find things like Castet, Manosquin, Théoulier, Tibouren, and Picpoul Noir. Some of the vines are over 100 years old.
The sum is a wine with shocking finesse, clarity, and drive. The 2020 serves as an exemplar for flaunting these qualities. In the 2020, you'll find a sleek limestone minerality, a silken texture, and beautiful agility. There's a very complex layering of herbs and pine notes, with dark fruits and a tightly wound mineral core.
To be honest, we're somewhat picky when it comes to offering Simone Rouge. We wait for vintages that really jump out at us. That's what the 2020 did. It was important to us to have pack pricing because the 2020 is absolutely lovely today and has a bright future ahead of it.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits
Special 3-pack pricing. Discount automatically applies at checkout.