Château Sainte Marguerite 2024 Fantastique Rosé Côtes de Provence La Londe 750ml

In 1955,when the Cru Classé desCôtes-de-Provence classification wasestablished, Château Sainte Margueritewas among the very first estatesrecognized — a distinction that hasbeen maintained without interruptionacross seven decades. Today, only 18estates hold this title. SainteMarguerite is one of them, and theFantastique is the cuvée that mostspecifically and most completelyexpresses why.

ChâteauSainte Marguerite owns approximately170 hectares of vineyardsfacing the sea in LaLonde-les-Maures, Provence — land thathas been farmed sinceancient times, though theestate in its modern form wasfounded in 1929 by concertpianist André Chevillon. TheFayard family purchased it in 1977and has since built theestate into one of Provence'smost internationally celebratedrosé producers. Since 2022,Pernod Ricard has been investing in theproperty, and the 2024 vintage carriesthe added significance of the estate'sreturn to full vineyard control —allowing the reinstatement ofthe "Château" designation acrossthe entire production. The 2024vintage itself reflects favorablegrowing conditions: a cool springfollowed by a warm, dry season withfresh nights, leading to a balancedexpression of fruit and minerality. Thewines were harvested at night topreserve acidity and freshness.

TheFantastique was created in 2017 to sitabove the estate's entry-levelSymphonie — a gastronomic rosé designedfor the table rather than simply theaperitif occasion. Raimonds Tomsons,the 2023 World's Best Sommelier,specifically endorses Fantastique as asommelier's delight, and Peter Dean ofThe Buyer, tasting the 2024 at itsLondon launch, found a wine that "opensout in the glasswith white peaches, nashi pear, lycheeand grapefruit skin — there'sa lovely register on the palate wherethe wine has real presence —vibrant acidity, pronounced minerality,structure and complexity — then sea airfreshness, with a salty, chalkyfinish like a pleasant lick ofAspirin." The 2024 vintageshowcases minerality alongside layersof white peach, pear, and subtlelychee notes, with notably refinedtexture reinforcing its reputationas a gastronomic rosé suitable for bothmeat and fish pairings.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Château Sainte Margueritehas been certified organic since 2003and vegan since 2015 — one ofProvence's earliest and mostcommitted organic estates, certifiedthrough FR BIO 01Ecocert. Every wine is produced usingexclusively plant-based inputs, makingthe entire range suitablefor vegans without compromise toquality.

Fantastique isproduced from Grenache, Cinsault, andRolle grown on La Londe'ssiliceous clay soils structured withpebbles and broken quartz — afiltering, well-oriented hillsideterroir in the Mediterraneancoastal climate of La Londe-les-Maures,hot and dry, moderatedby the proximity of the sea. TheCôtes-de-Provence La Londecomplementary geographical appellation— obtained by the estate andguaranteeing a distinct terroir due tothe presence of fourdifferent soil types in the commune —is one of the mostspecific and the mostquality-certifying designationsavailable to any Provence roséproducer.

Production follows coldskin maceration before pressing,temperature-controlled vinification,selection of the best vats,and aging in vats on fine lees beforefining, filtration, and bottling. In2024, the wines wereharvested at night to preserveacidity and freshness — a practice thatmaintains the natural aromatics andacid structure thatdistinguish Fantastique from simplerProvence rosé production.

Critics Reviews

Wine-Searcher aggregate — 91/100 (2024 vintage)

Bronze Medal — International Wine Challenge 2024:
"Round and juicy orangewith blossoms andstrawberries."

Raimonds Tomsons, 2023 World's Best Sommelier:
Specifically recommendsFantastique as a sommelier'sdelight.

Peter Dean, The Buyer (2024 vintage, London launch):
"Pale Provence pink;the wine seems at first tohave less concentration thanSymphonie, it feels more discreet, butthen it opens out in the glass withwhite peaches, nashi pear, lycheeand grapefruit skin; there's alovely register on the palatewhere the wine has real presence —vibrant acidity, pronouncedminerality, structure and complexity —there's an attractive bitterness too,then sea air freshness, with asalty, chalky finish like apleasant lick of Aspirin. No wonderTomsons adores this — it's asommelier's delight. Best pairing:Halibut with cauliflower purée,citrus beurre blanc and finger lime."

The Drinks Business (2024 vintage):
"The Fantastique Rosé 2024, certifiedorganic and vegan, showcased mineralityalongside layers of white peach,pear, and subtle lychee notes. Itstexture was notably refined,reinforcing its reputation as agastronomic rosé suitable for bothmeat and fish pairings."

Château Sainte Marguerite official 2024 tasting notes:
"Eye: A pearly pinkwith luminous golden highlights. Nose:A balance between rich aromasof white peach and pear, andmore exotic nuances of lychee,passion fruit and grapefruit zest.Mouth: Aromatic freshness withcitrus and floral notes (rose, hintof jasmine). A long finishthat lingers on the palate."

Wine Enthusiast (2023 vintage — house style context):
"Warm and inviting,this super-pale rosé has aromas offresh green apples and peachcobbler. These fruits carrythrough to the palate with theaddition of melon, grapefruit andocean notes, driven by acomplex minerality and salinity. Greatbalance with high acidity."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Pearlypink with luminous golden highlights —the cold skin macerationand night harvest's mostdelicate and most specificallyrefined contribution to a color ofgenuine Provence elegance.Discreet on first pour, then opensout in the glass withincreasing aromatic expressiveness —the most specificallyrewarding and the most genuinelysommelier-pleasing quality of thiswine. White peach and pear leadwith warm, round stone-fruit richness.Lychee adds the most exotic andthe most specifically memorablesecondary aromatic note — the onethat immediately distinguishesFantastique from simpler Côtes deProvence expressions. Passion fruit andgrapefruit zest add tropical andcitrus brightness. Rose and a hintof jasmine provide delicate florallift. Ocean notes thread through fromthe sea-facing La Londe terroir.

Palate
Real presence despite thepale color — vibrantacidity, pronounced minerality,structure and complexity arriving withgenuine authority after the wine'sinitially discreetappearance. The siliceous clay, pebble,and broken quartz soilsof La Londe are most directlycommunicated through the wine'spronounced mineral quality. Aromaticfreshness with citrus and floral notescarries through from nose to palate. Anattractive bitterness adds complexity— the quality that Tomsonsfinds most specifically impressive andthat elevates this beyond simplerefreshment into genuinely gastronomicterritory. Sea air freshness adds themost specifically coastal Provencequality on the mid-palate.

Finish
Salty, chalky, and long —the most specifically memorable andthe most precisely LaLonde-terroir-communicating finishingquality, described by The Buyer as"like a pleasant lick of Aspirin" inthe most affirmative possible sense.The long finish lingers onthe palate with grapefruit zest andmineral persistence. Served at 9-10°Cfor maximum aromaticexpressiveness.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Halibut with cauliflower purée, citrusbeurre blanc and finger lime — PeterDean's specific "best pairing of theday"
• Grilled lobster — the château'sown first recommendation
• Langoustinesand noble shellfish
• Sea urchins
• Crab
• Carpaccio of gambas
• Turbotwith citrus