Château de Miraval’s rosé will put stars in your eyes. Decorated with the finest accolades, the world’s most expensive rosé, property of famous duo Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and led by the Perrin family’s great savoir-faire, this Var estate isn’t lacking in sparkle. Beyond the glitz, the wine produced here is superb, with rosés at once velvety and refreshing.
The world’s most expensive rosé
On the 24th of May 2019, a magnum of Miraval’s Muse cuvée was auctioned for €2,600, making the newest member of the domain’s range the highest-valued rosé on the planet. The sale had been organised on a regional level for the Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s GoodPlanet Foundation and it was big news on the rosé scene. Only 200 magnums of this particular cuvée were produced in 2019. The only other rosé that comes close in terms of auction performance is the Garrus cuvée from Château d’Esclans, a Burgundian bottle that’s also worth a taste if you ever get the chance!
Sign on the star-studded line
In 2011, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie officially purchased Château de Miraval after falling under its charm a few years earlier on their hunt for a bit of peace and quiet. The stunning domain, located in Correns (Var) was valued at €35 million, surrounded by 500 hectares of pine, oak, olive groves and vineyards. The latter interest us the most, of course, and it’s a veritable mosaic of grape varietals, with Cinsault, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Rolle, Grenache, and Tibouren all cultivated across 30 hectares of land. The star pair were looking for expertise and turned to a family reputed for making grapes into gold in the Rhône valley: the Perrins. The experience of this excellent vintners includes the running of Château de Beaucastel in Châteauneuf, as well as other properties of high standing. Both parties were convinced, their shared vision of winemaking proving to stand the test of time since the Perrin family are still entrusted to craft the château’s wine.
The Perrin family and their mastery
In 2014, Decanter chose to give their personality of the year award not to one individual but to a whole family. The British publication picked out the Perrin family from the crowd, especially noting their work at Château de Beaucastel. Whilst this prestigious accolade dates back a little while, the Perrins have only continued to thrive. Several generations have contributed to this renown, developing quite a name for themselves in the wine world of the Rhône Valley. They have even branched out to exporting traditional Rhône varietals to the US! Advocates for organic production since 1953, they have also been great ambassadors for biodynamics. The Perrins had actually been looking for an opportunity to make wine in Provence for quite some time when Pitt and Jolie got in touch, thus finally giving them the chance to plant the family flag further afield.
Their first vintage at Château de Miraval was a big hit, even selected as one of Wine Spectator’s top 100 cuvées with a score of 90/100. It was, in fact, the only rosé in the ranking. Whilst this domain was previously reputed for its excellent white cuvées, the Perrin family’s arrival brought about a change in colour, with rosé production at the domain honed to a fine art. Marc Perrin never hesitated to call in the specialists, hence the help of Lydia and Claude Bourguignon, microbiologists who came to study the different terroirs and their composition. Whilst the Syrah grape can often lack ripeness, the dry stone terraces built at the domain allow the vines to take in more heat. The winery has undergone significant work and been rethought, with a series of ovoid vats now inhabiting it. Only a small part of the vinification is completed here, though, with much of the harvest taken to be vinified at partner châteaux.
In all, Miraval’s rosés are greatly enjoyed for their balanced character. They have the freshness and fruity character we like in a rosé, whilst also giving a suave and velvety texture that lifts it to the next level. A bottle like this is in its element at the table, where it’ll undoubtedly be the star of the show…