2024 Pigoudet Premiere Coteaux D'Aix En Provence Rose

The 2024 Château Pigoudet "Première" is a sustainably farmed rosé of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence — pale salmon pink, with wild strawberry, white peach, and rose petal on the nose, and a crisp, dry, mineral-driven finish that is pure Provence in a glass. The estate dates back to the 16th century, perched at 400 meters in the mountainous northeastern corner of the appellation — far from the coastal hype, closer to the terroir — run today by two generations of the Schmidt family who farm the vines sustainably and ferment with natural yeasts, the kind of quiet, family-driven commitment to place that we build our shelves around. Fun fact: Pigoudet's high-altitude vineyards are sheltered by Mont Vautubière, and the powerful Mistral winds that sweep through are one of the reasons the grapes ripen slowly and cleanly — nature doing the work so the winemaker doesn't have to. Serve well chilled with grilled fish, Niçoise salad, goat cheese, or a long lunch in the sun.