One of Bandol's top producers, Château Pradeaux has been owned by the Portalis family since 1752. It was on this date that the Comte Jean-Marie-Etienne Portalis inherited the property; he subsequently became a minister under Napoleon and participated in the creation of France's Civil Code. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Comtesse de Portalis came to live at Château Pradeaux and decided to plant a vineyard at the property, which had previously only grown olives. Her nephew Cyrille Portalis has managed the estate since 1983. Château Pradeaux's vines are planted in clay-limestone soil and gently cooled by the Mediterranean breeze. These conditions are particularly well-suited to Mourvèdre, the predominant grape in the property's grand vin. The vineyard is managed using traditional methods: chemical treatments are kept to a minimum and yields are strictly limited. Harvests are entirely manual and the grapes are not destemmed. After vinification, the wines are matured for at least three years in oak casks.

This rosé was produced within the Côtes de Provence appellation to give the winemakers more freedom, notably in the choice of grape varieties. Here, they decided to blend Clairette with Bourboulenc. The vines used to produce this cuvée are on a little island at the heart of the domain. The château is currently in the process of converting to organics, though a particular respect has always been accorded to the environment in the vines and the winery alike. The grapes are harvested by hand and only indigenous yeasts are used for fermentation. After direct pressing, the wine is vinified in vats to conserve its freshness. A Provence rosé par excellence, its colour is pale and delicate, and its nose has intense notes of peach, citrus and white flowers. A delicious wine to drink in its youth. It will pair nicely with an aperitif between friends this summer.