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Domaine les Bastides

Domaine les Bastides was established in the early 1970s by Jean Salen, a local farmer. Although Salen's aim in life was to produce vin cuit, a local speciality produced, as the name suggests, by heating the must, within a few years he had extended his vineyards and was producing red, white and rosé table wine. He is now ably assisted by his oenologist daughter, Carole, who has studied both in Burgundy and Bordeaux.

The estate now covers over 30 hectares. The leading wine is the Cuvée Valeria, a blend of mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, with some Mourvèdre. This wine spends one year in vat, followed by two in foudres, and shows plenty of Cabernet backbone on tasting. The Cuvée Tradition is Grenache, with a little Carignan and Cinsaut, aged in foudres for eighteen months. There is also a white, a mix of Sauvignon Blanc, Ugni Blanc and Rolle, and finally a rosé, made using Grenache and Cinsaut. (21/3/05)

Contact details:
Address: route de Saint-Canadet, 13610 Le-Puy-Sainte-Réparade
Telephone: +33 (0) 4 42 61 97 66
Fax: +33 (0) 4 42 61 84 45

Domaine les Bastides - Tasting Notes

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1996

Domaine les Bastides Cuvée Valeria (Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence) 1996: Lovely colour, showing some maturity, with a reasonably dense core and a wide, fading rim. The nose reveals plenty of Cabernet influence, with a firm cedary, blackcurrant style very reminiscent of the left-bank. Very structured palate, firm, tannic, very claret-like. Ripe fruit too, although not displaying inappropriate sweetness or texture. Definitely a wine that works best with food. Good length. I like this very much. 17+/20 (March 2005)