MIRABEAU | Pure | Côtes de Provence | Rosé | 2025
grenache | syrah

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The story of Mirabeau is one of passion and a daring leap of faith. A decade ago, Stephen and Jeany Cronk traded their demanding corporate lives in London for the sun-drenched vineyards of Provence, driven by a singular dream: to craft world-class rosé wines. With the invaluable guidance of Master of Wine Angela Muir, they released their inaugural vintage in 2011, swiftly establishing a reputation for producing elegant, light and fragrant rosé wines.
Tonight we are going to review a quite intriguing rosé wine from the famous Provence region of France – Pure Côtes de Provence Rosé 2025 by Maison Mirabeau. This wine is a harmonious blend of two grape varieties: grenache (60%) and syrah (40%), where grenache lends its trademark red berry fruit notes, forms the wine’s body, and contributes to a pleasant warmth, while syrah delivers extra structure, subtle spicy notes, and a touch of southern headiness. Rosé itself is a bizarre wine category, as it isn’t exactly a red wine, nor is it a white wine – it is something in between. The secret to the pinkish hue of the rosé wine is found in the skins of the red grapes and more exactly in the anthocyanin pigments. When making a red wine, the skins spend the entire fermentation in contact with the juice, for rosé however the process is shortened, for example pinot noir usually spends around 4 to 6 hours on the skins, to produce its trademark pale salmon hue, while cabernet sauvignon needs only a few minutes to make that rich, deep-pink color. Today’s wine is a classic provençal rosé blend, created by the two rosé methods: direct pressing for grenache, and saignée for syrah. The winemaking process is designed to preserve natural freshness and aromatic sophistication: the grapes are harvested at night to preserve acidity, followed by gentle pressing and partial maceration (stabulation) to enhance textural richness and aromatic intensity. Fermentation occurs at low temperatures, with the wine protected by inert gas throughout the process to prevent oxidation and enhance its aromatic intensity.

France is one of the world’s most influential wine-producing countries, with a long history of terroir-driven viticulture, defined by its wide climatic range – from the cool maritime zones of the Atlantic coast to the warm Mediterranean climate of the south. France is the birthplace to many of the world’s most famous grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, and Sauvignon Blanc. Its wines are known for balance, varietal typicity, and a strong link between geography and style (which is called terroir), forming global reference points for quality across all known wine styles.
The Provence wine region, stretching along the sun-drenched Mediterranean coast of southeastern France, is famed for producing some of the world’s most iconic rosé wines. With a classic Mediterranean, climate, marked by hot summers, mild winters, and abundant sunshine, it is moderated by the cooling breezes of the Mediterranean Sea and the famous Mistral wind. The region’s complex geology supports a wide range of grape varieties, from Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, to Mourvèdre, Tibouren and Rolle – all of them key players that create the Provence’s world famous rosé wines.

Côtes de Provence is the largest and most prominent appellation within Provence AOP, spanning from coastal areas influenced by sea breezes, to inland hills shaped by altitude and stony soils. This appellation benefits from a warm Mediterranean climate tempered by the Mistral wind, which helps maintain vineyard health and concentrate grape flavours. The soils here are equally diverse, ranging from limestone and clay to schist and granite, each contributing different structural qualities to the wines. Rosé dominates the landscape, crafted primarily from Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, often blended to achieve the perfect balance between fruit expressivity and terroir-driven minerality.

color: pale peach color
clarity: pastel pink shades

In the glass, the wine reveals a pale peach color (ballet-slipper pink), with delicate pastel pink shades at the rim of the glass. This translucent hue is a blueprint hallmark of a modern provençal rosé, promising elegance and freshness on the nose.

intensity: rich & fruity-explosive
fruit character: ripe & candied

The nose is a rich and fruity-explosive symphony, showcasing a ripe fruit character that immediately captures attention. The foreground bursts forth with a delightful medley of candy drops, evoking notes of berbery candy, pear drops, and exotic tropical fruit candy. This primary layer is beautifully interwoven with an array of sweet red fruits, including cranberry, redcurrant, raspberry, and sweet cherry, further enriched by hints of cotton candy and strawberry jelly. As the aroma develops, the background reveals a refreshing citrusy wave of sicilian orange and ripe pomegranate, complemented by nuanced, herbal-mineral undertones. Whispers of hay and straw-grass mingle with a stony-chalky and limestone minerality, while subtle touches of pomegranate skin and the delicate perfume of hawthorn flower add an intricate layer of complexity, creating an aromatic profile that is both profound and appealing.

sweetness: off dry | acidity: high | alcohol: medium+ | tannin: none | balance: good
finish: medium | aftertaste: crisp & sweet

On the palate, the wine delivers a harmonious tasting experience, presenting a rich, warm, and crisp mouthfeel that is both pleasantly-seedy and nuanced. This is an expressive, fruit-forward rosé wine that prioritizes varietal expression and aromatic purity over sheer opulence. The wine feels alluringly off-dry on the attack, invigorated by a bright acidity that lends remarkable freshness and liveliness. A well-integrated touch of alcoholic warmth emerges gently on the mid-palate, adding body and depth without overwhelming the delicate fruit profile. Supple tannins provide an additional textural grip, contributing to a well balanced structure. The finish is medium+, culminating in a seedy-crisp aftertaste that lingers gracefully, inviting for yet another sip.

maturity: in its prime | drink now or within a year
verdict: fine | highly recommended | a wine of premium quality

Overall, this is a true representation of modern provençal rosé wine: ample, rich, and round, defined by its explosive fruit and an unwavering varietal purity. It dlivers an elegant richness with a subtle yet invigorating citrusy-mineral appeal, creating a truly harmonious tasting experience. This is a wonderfully balanced and nicely-structured rosé, deftly focused on fruit expression rather than overt power. Its crisp yet pleasantly-warm mouthfeel makes it a true crowd-pleaser, embodying the essence of a contemporary Provence rosé – a wine that champions varietal identity intertwined with a profound sense of place. The wine is in its prime form right now, destined to be enjoyed in its youthful, vibrant beauty – a rosé crafted for immediate pleasure, making it the perfect companion for a hot summer’s evening.

Given its vibrant fruit character and delightful candy-sweet accents, this wine asks for a sublime congruent pairing that would champion its elegance. We would recommend serving it alongside a pan-seared John Dory with a lemon-herb butter sauce. The wine’s delicate red fruit notes will beautifully echo the subtle sweetness of the fish, while its crisp acidity will cut through the richness of the butter, creating a harmonious and refreshing interplay. Santé!

MIRABEAU | Pure | Côtes de Provence | Rosé | 2025
variety: grenache | syrah
country: France
region: Provence | Côtes de Provence
rating: 93.7

The Mirabeau project by Stephen and Jeany Cronk is a dream come true – they sold their home in London to embark on a winemaking adventure in Provence. Just a decade later, in 2019, they celebrated their tenth anniversary, delighted to see their award-winning wines being distributed in over 50 countries worldwide. The estate’s strategic location, just an hour away from Nice and Marseille, makes it an ideal base for exploring the glamorous french Riviera, while its position within the Plaine des Maures National Nature Reserve highlights its deep connection to Provence’s stunning natural beauty.

© The WineStatistics ratings are based solely on our own knowledge of the world of wine and on our personal wine tastes, which may, or may not, differ from yours – the reader. Just remember that there are no absolutes of right and wrong in wine appreciation. Cheers!