July 10 The future is so much more than Rosé in Minuty!
In the time of wine
I recently joined François Matton, CEO of Minuty wines, for a wine tasting and lunch on the terrace of Villa Minuty at the Rosewood Hotel in London. I naively went in thinking he only made rosé wines because that’s all I saw in wine shops, restaurants and hotels, but little did I know we would be tasting Minuty’s new 2023 crop of four Provence Rosés, three whites and one red.
Minuty’s vineyards in Provence span 200 kilometres, three appellations (Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence and Coteaux Varois-en-Provence) and four family generations. 90 percent of the winery’s production is Rosé, with Minuty’s recognized signature of freshness, precision and elegance coupled with strong aromatic expression.
Founded in 1930, Château Minuty was designated a Cru Classé in 1955, and created its signature “La Provençale” bottle in 1960. François and his brother Jean-Étienne have built the family business into a global brand since 1990. Last year, LVMH acquired Minuity with the aim of taking its wines to more glasses and restaurants around the world.
“I have always been inspired by the principles instilled by my father, Etienne Matton, and my grandfather, Gabriel Farnet. I am proud of what Menotti has become.
“I have worked tirelessly for 30 years to promote the development and growth of the property, alongside my brother Jean-Etienne.”
The new white wines of 2023 that we enjoyed were:
M de Minuty Blanc (coming soon, £18.99/£14.99, a blend of six at Majestic Wines)
A blend of 95% Rolle and 5% Ugni Blanc, this vibrant white wine, with refreshing acidity, is full of citrus aromas and flavours of grapefruit and green melon. It is a simple, easy-drinking wine that can be enjoyed on its own or with your favourite white fish.
Minuti Prestige Blanc (£21 at Close 19)
I am very proud to be one of the first people in the UK to taste this wine. Menotti Prestige wines have been showcasing the soils of Provence for over 25 years. A blend of 98% Rolle and 2% Clairette grapes, this wine has been created to express the freshness and elegance of the Rolle grape variety. Think intense aromas, delicate flavours, white flowers, lemon and pineapple with great length. It’s a great pre-drink, but you may need to wait until next year before you can enjoy it in the UK.
Minuti Blanc and Or
François introduced this wine as a “Michelin-starred wine”. A blend of Rolle (75%), this wine showcases the aromatic richness of the Sauvignon Blanc (20%) and Viognier (5%) grapes. Despite its robust body, this wine is balanced, light and fresh with good acidity. This wine is worthy of food, oysters, seafood dishes and beef tartare. To enjoy this wine, a visit to the Rosewood Hotel in London is a must. They currently have exclusive access within the UK, and believe me, it is worth the trip.
With 20% Sauvignon Blanc in the blend, he believes Blanc et Or “could be a great competitor to Pouilly-Fuissé.” For an even better experience, enjoy it on the Rosewood Terrace paired with the menu at Villa Minuty.
New rosé wines for 2023 include:
M de Minuty (£16.50 – £18.99 from Clos 19 and Majestic Wine)
The flagship rosé wine from Menotti that most of us have probably heard of, if not tasted.
This wine has a bright, lively flavour and a slight sweetness that tempers its vibrancy. Château Minuty is one of the last vineyards in Provence to hand-pick grapes, and in this wine you will find a blend of Grenache (60%), cinsault (30%) and Syrah (10%) grapes, all grown with the HEV (High Environmental Value) certification.
Minuty Prestige Rosé (£21-24 from Clos, Majestic Wine and Harvey Nichols)
A pure and clear wine, its aroma lingers in the mouth for a long time, with aromas of red berries followed by apricot notes. It is a blend of Grenache (70%) and Syrah (15%) which guarantees an elegant and aromatic complexity. The blend is completed with Cinsault (5%) which adds vitality, and Rolle (10%).
Chateau Minuty Rosé Et Or (£28 from Clos and Harvey Nichols)
Made with hand-picked grapes from three regions – Grenache (80%) provides body while Syrah (10%) gives a delicious rounded texture, plus Cinsault (5%) and Tiburin (5%). This is a special wine, fresh, light, mineral and enhanced with saltiness. A very versatile wine when it comes to food pairing, choose from oysters to spicy Asian cuisine.
Chateau Minuty 281 (£55 from Clos and Harvey Nichols)
You can't miss this bottle, it's iconic and that's what influenced François when he designed the bottle. “Blue is rarely used in winemaking,” but François wanted to
This is what makes his bottle of wine so recognizable among other wines, it sits in a chilled ice bucket, in restaurants all over the world. The deep blue wine is Pantone’s blue color number 281 (hence the name) and makes one think of the sky, the ocean and the sea. It is more intense than other wines, with citrus and exotic fruits, while maintaining its freshness.
This wine is made for food, in fact, I wouldn't drink it without food. We were invited to have risotto savourum, scallops and gremolata, but this wine can cover all dishes. Next time, I'm thinking of a rich, spicy curry or a whole lobster.
“What is the future of Menotti? It is white wine,” he says, focusing heavily on producing high-quality white wines from Provence that will compete with the best white wines produced in regions such as Burgundy.
