Moulin de la Roque

This estate is conveniently situated on a round-a-bout near the La Cadière-d'Azure and the A50 autoroute and looks like a slick operation from both the outside and on the layout within. There are seven types of Bandol rosé sold at this cave-a-vin as well as other wines from the area as well as Provence and we were keen to try the 2017 rosé having remembered ordering a 2016 bottle in a restaurant last year.

All looking good until we approached the tasting table to sample some of the pink and immediately get a reception as icy as the refrigerated bottles behind the bar.

The first wine we tried was the Bandol Les Baumes which was quite orange in hue and had a very flowery bouquet. The Bandol Domaine La Ragle (complete with Medaille d’Or) was more of a peach colour and pleasantly dry and minerally – certainly not for glugging. The 2017 Domaine de la Narette was lighter than the others and sweeter. And finally, the Tarente Réserve 2017, which was a darker orange hue which had a touch of elderflower. All four bottles had their stoppers quickly and tightly replaced without a hint of a smile. 

We would have liked to have known more about this estate, which we understand is a large co-operative, but information was, to say the least, far from forthcoming – a short pour and we left none the poorer.

Tried and tasted (but won’t be buying) the Tarente, Les Baumes, the Domaine de La Nartette and the Domaine de la Ragle rosés at between €12.80 and €15.80/bottle.

Destination, drop-in or drive-by? Unless you like your reception to be as cold as your rosé just keep turning at that round-a-bout and try one of the many friendlier caves in the area.

1 ROUTE DES SOURCES,

83330 LE CASTELLET