On our 2017 Wine Tour we had an invitation to visit Château Léoube near Bormes-les-Mimosa in Provence. This is a short account of one amazing day!

Exiting the Autoroute, we find ourselves meandering along a narrow road sandwiched between vines and olive groves set against a clear Mediterranean blue sky. It’s enchanting and magical in equal proportions and even though Mother Nature has been scarred by the terrible fires of the previous month she is still resplendent in her beauty.

Jérôme Pernot, Sales and Marketing Director at Château Léoube has arranged for his colleague Alexandre Ferrand, UK Sales Manager to meet us on arrival at the Château for a tour of the estate and winery. Climbing into the estate Land Rover, we head out to explore the vineyard and learn more about this enchanting place.

The estate is beautiful. Lovingly restored; with a huge investment by the current owners Lord and Lady Bamford of JCB and Daylesford Organics. It strikes me that one of the things that makes Château Léoube really special is the same passion and dedication that Cassie Bamford has applied to the Daylesford brand. Provenance and sustainability are central to the ethos of Léoube.  Demonstrating how it’s possible to produce food and or wine in a way that is a partnership with nature. If the end product tastes great and you can turn a profit then that’s a bonus,

Our tour of the estate takes around an hour. We learn about the organic viticultural practices and appreciate just how close the vineyards are to the sea. The cooling Mediterranean Sea breezes helping to provide optimal growing conditions for the grapes ripening in the scorching Provencal sun.

A mixture of schist and clay soils are the main soil type found in Léoube. This combination assists with drainage and some degree of water retention whilst also giving the wines a rather pleasing mineral note.

In the distance we see the hillsides blackened by the burnt vegetation of the wild fires from the month before.

Short clip of the fire ravaged landscape near Leoube

On our return to the winery we get to see how they deal with the grapes once harvested. Great care is taken to ensure that there is no premature oxidation as maintaining the freshness of the grapes is paramount so protective winemaking practices employed. The theme of investment continues with up to date technology used to ensure the ideal pressing conditions to allow the winemaker to achieve the desired results.

After the tour Alex takes over to the tasting room and shop. The place is bustling with locals and visitors eager to sample the delicious organic wines and organic produce (oils, figs tapenade etc…)  on sale in the shop. I eagerly anticipate the first of the 7 wines from the Léoube range which we will taste!

All Léoube wines are 100% organic with a commitment to follow biodynamic principles including encouraging biodiversity within the vineyard and employing traditional growing methods and using only natural non toxic preparations to treat pests and disease. In line with this the harvest follows the lunar calendar. The grapes are hand harvested to ensure only high quality fruit enters the presses.

Tasting notes as at August 2017.

Léoube Blanc 2016 AOC COTES DE PROVENCE

Made from 50% Semillon, 25% Rolle and 25% Ugni Blanc. Gentle pressing and MLF. Pale lemon in appearance. A nose that’s M+ intensity of salinity and minerality, with white flowers and pear and a herbal note from the surrounding garrique. Youthful.  Palate: Dry, high acidity, M+ body, M alcohol and M+ finish. Medium + intensity of citrus lemon, pear, mineral stone and salinity. Delightfully refreshing with great balance, intensity and complexity. A very good wine.

Rosé de Léoube 2016 AOC COTES DE PROVENCE

A blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, 15% Syrah and 5% Mouvèdre. Appearance: Pale salmon. Nose: M+ intensity, of red fruits: wild strawberry, with some stoney minerality and salinity. Youthful. Palate: Dry, M+acidity, M body, M alcohol, M+ intensity of tropical pineapple and strawberry with stoney minerality and salinity. The creaminess from MLF finishes off the wine a treat! Great balance, intensity and complexity. A very good Rosé; perfect with fish/shellfish, grilled vegetables, goat’s cheese and even desserts ( as we later found out as a sublime pairing with the Léoube fig crumble!)

Secret of Léoube 2016 AOC COTES DE PROVENCE

A blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. The addition of 20% Cabernet adds volume, structure and backbone to this Rosé. More pale pink in appearance than its stable mate. But with higher acidity and drier. More body and some stone fruit M+ finish. A bold Rosé that can handle grilled meats and tartare in addition to  shellfish and grilled vegetables which often pair so well with the Provençal Rosé. A very good wine.

Léoube La Londe 2015 AOC COTES DE PROVENCE LA LONDE

A micro appellation within the Léoube estate. A Cuvée made to reflect the schist soils found in Léoube from the same grapes found in the Rosé de Léoube:  – Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre. A slow gentle pressing by gravity is used to help preserve some of the unique character of this wine.  A nose that’s strawberries and cream with a hint of white peach which follows through to the palate. Crisp and dry, with M+ acidity, Medium body and alcohol and M+ finish. A very good wine.

Rouge de Léoube  2015 AOC COTES DE PROVENCE

80% Syrah dominant blend with 10% Cinsault and 10% Grenache. Loads of fresh blackberry fruit with spicy notes of pepper and cinnamon. Dry, with high acidity, high tannin, medium alcohol, M+ body and M+ finish.

Les Forts de Léoube  2015 AOC COTES DE PROVENCE

Aged for 18 months in Foudres (Large old oak barrels) allowing gentle micro-oxidation. A blend of equal parts of Grenache, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Deep Ruby in colour. A nose of smoky oak and herbal garrique with blackberry and spice. On the palate: Dry, high acidity, high tannin, high alcohol, M+ body, and a long finish. More blackberry and spice with cedar and smoke. A very good wine with ageing potential for 5-10 years.

Léoube Collection 2012

This wine although outside of the AOC is one of the most interesting! It comes from a project that Lord Bamford embarked upon to produce a “Super” Provençal wine that could be long ageing. These wines are known in France as “Vin de Garde”. A wine to be kept. The project was 10 years in the making. Made from 100% Cabernet Franc. Matured in Demi-Muids (600L oak barrels) for 24 months. Garnet in appearance indicative of its ageing. Nose: black cherries and black plums with a herbaceous green pepper note. Palate: Dry, high acidity, M+ tannin, high alcohol, full bodied, long finish. Pronounced intensity of black cherries and black plums with chocolate and tobacco. An outstanding wine drinking well now with ageing potential for a further 10 plus years.

After the tasting we take a short drive to the nearby beach of Plage du Pellegrin which forms part of the extensive Château Léoube estate. The funky Cafe de Léoube sells simple but tasty food. We are seduced by a goats cheese panini and a fig crumble that is made with figs from he estate; accompanied of course by a chilled glass of Rosé de Léoube!

The organic fig orchards bursting with fruit.

The beach cafe also is the gateway to a series of coves and wild beaches with a coastal path that is both challenging and beautiful in equal proportions. After a late lunch we take the coastal path for a bracing walk before plunging into the crystal clear refreshing cool Mediterranean waters which provide temporary respite from the scorching Provençal sun. Remarkably, even in the height of the French school holidays, this place is not jam packed full of tourists and beach goers!

The organic olive groves of Léoube.

After our beach walk and swim we head back to the Cafe de Léoube where a 4 piece Acid Jazz band are playing some funky grooves as the wind picks up. Ordering another chilled glass of Rosé de Léoube, listening to the soulful saxophonist blast out Donald Byrd’s Cantaloupe:

Cantaloupe – Proévencal Acid Jazz

with the sun setting, it’s the perfect finale to an incredible day spent at Château Léoube!