Palette

Palette, miniature appellation of just 43 ha/106 acres in 2005 in provence in the hills east of Aix-en-Provence. The appellation is a relatively old one, created in 1948 in recognition of a distinctive limestone outcrop on the north-facing bank of the River Arc. A single property, Ch Simone, produces most of the wine, and for many years was responsible for the most serious wine of the appellation. For seven generations, Ch Simone has been in the Rougier family, who continue to respect the traditional winemaking techniques, involving very old vines, prolonged fermentation, and barrel maturation using very little new wood. field blends of southern vine varieties make extremely dense, long-lived reds, full-bodied rosés, and characterful white wines which belie modern white winemaking philosophy. The indigenous varieties permitted are even more numerous than those allowed in châteauneuf-du-pape.