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Mas de Valriole lies deep in the Camargue Regional Nature Park, a wild and windswept corner of southern Provence where flamingos wade in saltwater lagoons and white horses roam free. Founded in 1950 by the Michel family, the estate is today run by Patrick and Jean-Paul Michel, who farm organically across 32 hectares of vines surrounded by rice paddies, wetlands, and the shimmering Mediterranean. The Camargues terroir is unlike any other in Provenceits sandy, alluvial soils are a gift of the Rhne River, deposited over centuries and laced with shells, pebbles, and limestone fragments. This light, porous soil drains freely while reflecting sunlight back to the vine, encouraging even ripening. The proximity to the sea tempers the summer heat, while the Mistral wind sweeps in from the north to keep vines healthy and grapes clean, allowing for minimal intervention in the vineyard.

The 2024 V Ros is crafted from a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Caladoc, chosen for their ability to thrive in the Camargues sunny, maritime climate while yielding wines with both aromatic lift and gentle structure. Grapes are picked in the cool pre-dawn hours to preserve natural acidity and prevent oxidation. After a gentle direct pressing, the juice is cold-settled before fermentation in stainless steel tanks at low temperatures. No malolactic fermentation is encouraged, ensuring a taut, fresh backbone. The winemaking is deliberately hands-off, with no oak aging, allowing the wines subtle fruit, salinity, and mineral notes to shine through unadorned.

In the glass, the V Ros 2024 is a shimmering pale salmon with glints of rose gold. The bouquet is immediate yet refinedfresh wild strawberries, white peach skin, red currant, and watermelon flesh mingle with notes of pink grapefruit zest and a whisper of fresh thyme. Theres also a delicate, briny edgean aromatic echo of the nearby seathat sets this ros apart from inland Provence examples.

The palate is lithe, precise, and mouthwatering. A burst of juicy red berries and stone fruit is carried by bright citrus and a fine-boned mineral thread, giving the wine a sense of energy and flow. The finish is crisp and dry, with a faintly savory herbal lift that lingers just long enough to entice the next sip. Balanced, refreshing, and effortlessly elegant, this is a ros that speaks clearly of placesun-washed yet breezy, with a personality shaped as much by the wind and sea as by the soil beneath the vines.

Serve it well-chilled alongside grilled prawns, bouillabaisse, Nioise salad, or a platter of fresh goat cheese and Provenal olives, or simply enjoy it as an apritif while watching the sun set over water. The 2024 V Ros is not only a charming summer companionits a distilled expression of the Camargues rare and