Our vintages

Our rosé is made from Grenache, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre and/or Syrah in smaller quantities.
Just like our red wine, these varieties get the best of both worlds with the Maures foothills’ fersialitic soil and the region’s sun-drenched climate. The vineyard’s water supply system ensures our terroirs produce grapes with complex aromatic potential, particularly with the very gradual installation of controlled hydraulic restrictions in the countryside. Managing harvest dates, choosing different degrees of ripeness and complimentary varieties enable us to make flawless, inviting rosé wine with diverse complexity depending on the blend.

We use our expertise to lock in the best of the fruit i.e. the grapes are harvested as early as possible in the morning to make the most of the cool temperatures, we use modern equipment (tubular exchanger, pneumatic press, thermo-regulated vats, roller pump etc.), winemaking methods (selective presses at very low pressure, static clarification, pre-fermentation must blending, fermentation at controlled and appropriate temperatures etc.).

Our red wine is made primarily from Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. How the grapes ripen is heavily influenced by the soils’ unique hydraulic properties on our land: the vines squeeze every last drop out of the spring rain at the start of the season and the iron-rich soil enhances photosynthesis. The sandstone sub-soil stops it drying out too quickly and helps water stress gradually set in so the vines can thrive. The iron-rich and particularly eroded fersialitic soils encourage photosynthesis, whilst the sunny climate at the bottom of the Maures mountain range is all it takes to ensure the grapes ripen by the end of the season, which we adjust based on the harvest year.

The harvest tends to occur between late August and the first fortnight in September.

Our Prestige Château Demonpère Red vintages are a blend of mainly Syrah (approx. 70%) with a selection of the best Cabernet Sauvignon clusters.

Our first Château Demonpère Notre-Dame des Anges Red vintage appeared in 2019 with our blend of mainly Syrah with Grenache, partly aged in oak barrels for one year at 40%.

We make our vintages using the traditional Bordeaux method with a short pre-fermentation maceration (soak), then fermentation with intense pump-overs for the first few days which drop in intensity very soon after. The extended maceration at controlled temperatures is adjusted based on tannin extraction. Vat ageing for 1 year and partial ageing in oak barrels (20-40%) add a light woody flavour and make the tannins smoother.

2015 saw the appearance of the 1st certified organic vintage.
2019 was the 1st year of our DGC A.O.P. Côtes de Provence Notre-Dame des Anges.

The white grape variety grown on the estate is Vermentino (also known as Rolle). The sun-drenched climate on the Maures mountain range helps it develop ripe yellow fruit aromas that bring to mind apricot and tropical fruit.

Our soil in part of the estate is slightly deeper with a less restrictive water reserve than other plots. Despite being very similar to the winery’s other plots in terms of composition, the soils are slightly richer at this depth which helps the Vermentino variety’s foliage to flourish. The grapes are better sheltered from the sun and lock in more of their aromatic freshness.

We tend the winery by making the most of the cooler temperatures, so we harvest in the early morning and use a tubular heat exchanger to gain a few precious degrees once the grapes have been picked. To bring out the best of the skin’s rich aroma, we use pellicular maceration (leaving the skins in contact with the grape juice for a few hours just before pressing). We use taste as a guide and, in a matter of hours, this operation helps extract the essential initial aromas to make a wine that’s full of personality as soon as fermentation begins. We also use temperature to control fermentation so the yeast has time to bring out the aromas.

The Prestige vintages from Château Demonpère have a short ageing period (3 months) in stainless steel vats to keep them fresh and smooth.