In the Greek-Celtic period, Roquefort was a rear-guard fortification for the nearby towns of Cassis and Marseille. When it was requisitioned by the Romans it was renamed “Rocca Fortis” and later, “Roquefort”. It was passed between the Crown of Provence to the bishops of Marseille and eventually, in 1812, it was bought by the Earl of Gardanne, an army officer and ancestor to the de Villeneuve de Flayosc family who are the estate’s present owners. The average age of the vines in this 24 ha of vineyard is forty years and it features many traditional Provencal varieties: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Carignan and Cinsault for the reds and Clairette, Rolle and Ugni for the whites. The strength of this domaine lies in its unique microclimate: the tides breathe life into the vineyard and its altitude brings cool nights, meaning grapes ripen slowly and Roquefort wines consequently retain a remarkable aromatic complexity. Raimond de Villeneuve is the current head of the domaine, which is now converted to organic viticulture (ECOCERT certified) and soils are worked without chemical additions. Many cuvées have been produced as a result of the experiments made by this domaine with their unique blends, even if that means bearing the sub-category classifications of VDP or IGP.

This cuvée is a blend of Clairette, Ugni blanc and Vermentino, all grown organically and harvested by hand. The bunches are partially destemmed and pressed pneumatically. The juice ferments at a controlled temperature of 18-23°C and malolactic fermentation is stopped. To preserve the natural freshness of the grapes, the wine is matured in neutral containers made of steel and concrete.
In the glass this is a clear wine with delicate notes of white flowers, minerals, white peach and citrus. It is lively and energetic on the palate, finishing on a fresh note. A pleasant cuvée that will pair nicely with fish dishes.