Henri Milan is a bit of a character. He turned his back on the Baux-de-Provence appellation in 2007 in order to fully express his creativity in the vineyard, just a few kilometres from Domaine Trévallon which took the same path. The very incarnation of la vie en rose, pink is the inviting colour we find everywhere at this domain, representing the lees of the wine and inspiring the vigneron in his work. In the winery, no additives are used aside from a very light dose of sulphites, and there is no fining or filtering in the process. The 15 hectares of vines have been cultivated organically since 2002, and this move towards natural production was inspired by encounters with figures such as Claude Bourguignon, a researcher in agrobiology. His son Théophile helps with sales side of things, and his daughter Emmanuelle is their in-house oenologist. A family affair, therefore, which shows no sign of slowing down, such is the passion that propels the Milans.

Le Vallon is a complex wine, produced from a blend of various traditional southern grape varieties whose vines are cultivated organically on limestone scree and blue marl subsoil. These young vines are harvested by hand and their fruit undergoes a brief whole-cluster maceration. All the grape varieties are fermented together and the wine is matured for 12 months in old barrels. This cuvée defies all expectations, classified as a French Vin de Table, it pairs well with rich and complex dishes. Freshness provides a counterbalance to its strong tannins which integrate beautifully in time.