The Cotes de Provence Maison des Vins in
Les Arcs is the place you can taste for free among the many Cotes de Provence wines , and also help yourself among the hundreds of bottles stacked in the adjacent cellar for any purchase ( same price as you would pay at the estates) .
This wine-tasting and store facility is open year around 7 days a week (except that in winter, it is closed on sundays). Phone is : 04 94 99 50 20 .
Les Arcs (see
this map : Les Arcs is in the center, left of La Motte) is a typical provencal village in inner Provence in the Var departement , between Brignoles and Frejus, on a hill a short distance from the Nationale 7 highway .
The "Maison des Vins des Cotes de Provence" is located right on the N 7 highway(at a distance from the village), you can't miss it , it is on the left when you come from the west .
The circular tasting bar
The air-con cooled building with parking lot and landscaping in front, also has a gastronomic restaurant upstairs .
This is a Wine House where you can taste for free among wines from 230 wine producers and 20 wine cooperatives .
The selection is changed weekly . When we stopped there , there were 4 whites , 6 roses and 6 reds on the tasting list . The tasting room is adjacent to the cellar-store and is very functional . They also sell potteries, books , honey, tapenades and other fine provencal products, as well as wine accessories .
The adjacent room, organised like a cellar, contains hundreds of bottles of the Domaines & Chateaus of the region, and visitors help themselves with wicker baskets .
7 persons work in the building . 3 or 4 sommeliers are in the tasting room to serve the visitors .
The wine in the cellar is divided in 5 sub-regions :
Collines du haut pays (highland hills) ,
Sainte Victoire,
Bassin du Beausset,
Bordure maritime (sea border) ,
Vallee interieure,
This is what we tasted :
__1__Domaine des Grands Esclans white 2003 . 80% Rolle 20% Clairette . 7 Euro . fresh . Fruits . Domaine is in La Motte .
__2__ Domaine de L'Angueroun white 2003 "Cuvee Speciale". Nice label . 11 Euro . 70% Rolle 20% Semillon 10% Ugni Blanc . In Borme les Mimosas.
__3__ Cellier de La Crau white 2003 . A cooperative in La Crau . 30% Rolle 30% Ugni Blanc 30% Semillon 10% Clairette . One of the cheapest . 3,2 Euro .
__4__ Celliers de Ramatuelle rose ."Cuvee du Navigateur Antiboul". No year . 95% Tibouren 5% Grenache . 4,8 Euro . Not really typical of the Tibouren.
__5__ Domaine Saint Jean Baptiste rose 2003 20% Grenache 30% Cinsault 40% Syrah . 6,2 Euro . Vegetal . Not bad . Located in Lorgues.
__6__ Cellier des Archers red 2003 "Cuvee Terroir". 80% Syrah 20% Grenache . In les Arcs.
__7__ Domaine des Tournels red 2000 "Cuvee Speciale" . In Ramatuelle . 60% Syrah 30% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Grenache . 5,7 Euro . Special bottle (longer size) with non coloured glass . Nose : some roasted. Spicy. Nice.
__8__ Chateau de Pourcieux red 2001 . In Pourcieux near Montagne Sainte Victoire . 90% Syrah 5% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Grenache. Vegetal. 6,85 Euro.
__9__ Domaine de Siouvette red 2002 "Cuvee Marcel Galfard" . 8 Euro . 50% Syrah 30% Cabernet Sauvignon 20% Grenache . Woody . Powerful . I like this one ; B. too . Elegant . The sommelier says : good with "pieds et paquets", a provencal meal . Female wine producer : Sylvaine Sauron . Her Domaine is located in La Mole, near Saint Tropez.
__10__ Chateau real Martin red 2000 . In Le Val . 50% Grenache-Syrah. Very nice nose. 13,3 Euro.
__11__ Chateau la Moutete red 2000 "Cuvee vieilles Vignes" 9,5 Euro . 65% Mourvedre 35% Carignan. Interesting nose. B. says because of old Carignan vines . Would be interesting to check in a few years . In Cuers, by someone named Gerard Duffort .
Maison des Vins des Cotes de ProvenceRN 7 (Road #7) 83460 Les Arcs sur ArgensTél : 00 33 (0)4 94 99 50 20Fax : 00 33 (0)4 94 99 50 29www.caveaucp.fr[email protected]
Comments