A Provence rosé vertical: almost every vintage 1990-2019
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94 Mas de Cadenet - Famille Négrel Grande Garde (Rosé) 2003Copper tangerine. Aromatic aromas of dried apricots and bananas. On the palate, lively fresh exotic fruit of mango and guava, leading into notes of smoky, bitter chocolate. Creamy with sweet notes of calisson (almonds and candied fruit) with long, linear saline minerality on the finish and long fresh acidity.
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93 Mas de Cadenet - Famille Négrel Grande Garde (Rosé) 2014
Grenache, Syrah. First year without malolactic fermentation. Pale copper. Slightly sweeter coconut nose. On the palate, creamy ripe white peach, dried apricots, ginger, exotic fruit, melon confit and hints of jasmine countered by bitter orange, saline notes, hints of grapefruit pith freshness and some flinty smoke notes as the wine opens up. The acidity, so typical of the vintage, is still very fresh and long, with a silky elegance. Slightly closed and youthful and surprisingly linear with a phenolic grip right until the end.
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93 Mas de Cadenet - Famille Négrel Grande Garde (Rosé) 1997
Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. Less saigné and more direct press, the colour here is a light copper. Aromas of beeswax and quince with a hint of roses. On the palate red berries and firm structure with a suggestion of some younger oak? Followed by creamy melon, honey and pineapple notes with sweet oranges, plums and more quince and some red velvet tannins. Full-bodied structure with wonderful freshness. More red winey than a Tavel of the same age. Oak structure coming through surprisingly strongly with a saline mineral finish. Acidity is round and balanced.
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92 Mas de Cadenet - Famille Négrel Grande Garde (Rosé) 2000
Grenache, Syrah and slightly less Cinsault as it was felt it was being overwhelmed by the oak. Still using some saigné. Copper pink. The Cinsault character is still evident with lacy florality overlaying elegant ripe red fruit, orange and pineapple confit, rose petals, leafy, minty freshness, honey, quince and Christmas spice. White creamy acidity, typical of the local terroir, and a very direct, linear, stoney structure with a hint of ferrous minerality. Very like the 2019.
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92 Mas de Cadenet - Famille Négrel Grande Garde (Rosé) 1991
Includes Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, some saigné and malolactic fermentation. A darker copper colour reflects the deeper colour of Provence rosés at this time due to the longer maceration. Aromas of floral pot pourri, coffee and nuts. On the palate there is a distinct red wine character with initial notes of oranges, wild berries and a firm minerality with vibrantly fresh acidity. As the wine opens up, notes of ripe red fruit compote and rich dark toffee, walnuts, coffee and buttercream appear with some savoury notes of garrigue and a hint of leather. Elegant, almost crystalline structure - angular but softened, tannins around the edges. Unbelievable freshness and linear acidity on the finish, and enough power to continue to open up in the glass without fading away.
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91 Mas de Cadenet - Famille Négrel Grande Garde (Rosé) 2019
Syrah and Grenache. Pale peachy pink. Gentle oak on the nose. On the palate, silky creamy white peach, black fruit, perfumed floral notes (almost rosewater) and ripe richness combine to balance the weight of the sweet new oak. Tight structured length with smoky minerality, grapefruit pith, blood orange and supple white acidity. Lovely weight and roundness.
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91 Mas de Cadenet - Famille Négrel Grande Garde (Rosé) 2008
Copper ambré. A classic aged rosé with some oxidative notes on the nose of dried fruit, quince and blood orange. On the palate, delicate melon and white citrus freshness develop into dark apricots and peaches, toasty hazelnuts, smokey nuts, burnt sugar and a bitter orange saline, vegetal finish. The wine does not have the roundness of some vintages, instead presenting a direct, fresh crispness.
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90 Mas de Cadenet - Famille Négrel Grande Garde (Rosé) 2011
Grenache in demi-muid (since the 2010 vintage), Syrah. Pinker darker salmon. There was more Syrah in the blend in this vintage and this came through on the palate. Floral and black mulberry fruit on the nose. Lots of black fruit, floral, cacao, coffee, and incense very much come through, opening up to violets overlaying the ripe Grenache notes of dried apricots and spice. Round, creamy, gentle, velvety structure. Acidity is clearly softened by malo but still clearly punchy and with incredible crispness on the finish.