Prestige Provence rosés and whites from Château Sainte Marguerite
Website: https://www.chateausaintemarguerite.com/en/
This was a masterclass at Wine Paris, focusing on this important estate from Provence. It was presented by Raimonds Tomsons, the well known Latvian sommelier, and Olivier Fayard, the CEO and chief winemaker at Sainte Marguerite.
Olivier’s parents Brigitte and Jean-Pierre Fayard bought the domaine in 1977. It has 450 hectares of vineyards in two locations that are both classified as Cru Classé.
It was back in 1955 that 23 estates became Cru Classé in Provence. Eighteen of these remain, and are able to use this label. Historically, the classification was based on examining terroirs, and out of 70 estates considered, only 23 were awarded the badge.
The first Marguerite terroir is La Londe, which is close to the sea, and has mica schist soils that are compact and stony. It gets a lot of wind.
The second terroir is further in land, called Pierrefeu, which has limestone clay soils, mild winters and lower rainfall, with significant sunshine hours.
In terms of the plant material, they have been working with famous pepeneriste Lilian Berrillon, and have a massale selection of Grenache and Cinsault, plus Vermentino from Corsica.
Four years ago Marguerite went into a partnership with Pernod Ricard. These wines are among the top tier of Provence in terms of pricing, but they also deliver.
Château Sainte Marguerite Symphonie Rosé 2025 Cru Classé Côtes de Provence, France
13% alcohol. This was first made in 1999. It’s 50% Grenache, 45% Cinsault and 5% Vermentino (Rolle). They use the cuvée and the pressings for this. Fruity aromatics and a lovely texture on the palate. Has brightness, juicy citrus and some cherry and pear. Pure and youthful with a slight chalkiness, finishing with grapefruit and lemon. 91/100
Château Sainte Marguerite Fantastique Rosé 2025 Cru Classé Côtes de Provence, France
13% alcohol. First made in 2017, this is 45% each of Grenache and Cinsault and 10% Rolle. Just cuvée, not pressings. Subtle, pure and fine with lovely grapefruit notes as wll as supple cherry and cranberry characters. Fresh and linear with a nice chalky undercurrent. Subtle peach notes, too. There’s a real elegance to this wine. 93/100
Château Sainte Marguerite Marguerites en Provence Rosé 2025 Cru Classé Côtes de Provence, France
13% alcohol. Just from La Londe, and its mica schist soils. 60% Grenache, 20% Cinsault and 20% Rolle. This is fresh and elegant. Bright with delicate mandarin, pear and grapefruit characters. There’s a lovely mid-palate texture to this wine, which is fine and expressive with nice texture on the mid-palate. Some salinity on the finish. 93/100
They have been making white wines since the 1980s, largely from seaside plots such as Le Désirade.
Château Sainte Marguerite Symphonie Blanc 2025 Cru Classé Côtes de Provence, France
This is Rolle, 70% from La Londe and 20% from Pierrefeu. Stainless steel only. Lively and fresh but also textural, with nice acidity but also a saline twist and some intriguing notes of wild herbs, pear, peach and lime. Compact now, but will expand given a bit of time. Preserved lemons and almond on the finish. 93/100
Château Sainte Marguerite Fantastique Blanc 2024 Cru Classé Côtes de Provence, France
13.5% alcohol. Rolle, Lalonde only, barrel fermented with 50% new oak. Very stylish with smoky grapefruit, some peach and pear fruit, and also some oak that adds a nice spicy framing. Fresh and textural and quite refined. 93/100
