Chateau Maupague

France > Provence > Cotes de Provence

 

Description:
Château Maupague lies in the new sub-appellation Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire, created by the I.N.A.O in 2008 so as to more precisely identify a superior microclimate located along the southern flank of the Mont Sainte-Victoire east of Aix-en-Provence. This venerable mountain, which inspired so many paintings by Paul Cézanne, protects the region from north winds and also describes a unique terroir, made up of decomposed rock from the Mont Sainte-Victoire along with clay and sandstone from existing strata.

Maupague (pronounced Mo-pog) is an old Provençal word meaning “to give little,” an apt description of the property. Aside from the original forests that stood before the vineyard was planted, the soil isn’t good for much else. But to Gabriel Sumeire, a Provençal grower who had already developed the nearby Château Coussin in the township of Trets, Maupague showed especially good potential for rosé wines. The family bought Château Maupague in 1991 after it had been neglected for many years. Located in the township of Puyloubier, at the foot of the Mont Sainte-Victoire, the vines are planted in a traditional mix of 80% Grenache and 20% Cinsault, plus some white varieties, and the vineyard as a whole is presently in the process of organic reconversion. All harvesting is done by hand, fermentation is carried out in automatic temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, and the wines are given a fairly early bottling.

The Sumeires have been winegrowers since the 19th century, and Gabriel Sumeire is the head of the regional viticultural syndicate. Besides their two principal estates of Maupague and Coussin, they also own Château L’Afrique in Cuers, making a total of 300 hectares of vineyard. The new 2009 vintage of Maupague was recently awarded a gold medal at the Concours Générale Agricole in Paris.

 

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Website: http://www.sumeire.com