Heidi Turzyn, Wine Director at Gotham Bar & Grill, was my wise and enthusiastic guide to the rosé wines of Château Minuty.
As the wine director of New York City's iconic and award-winning Gotham Bar and Grill, Heidi Turzyn manages and curates a list of nearly 800 wines. From well-known benchmark producers to smaller artisan wineries, Heidi is committed to providing guests with quality wines from around the globe. In the summer months, the demand for rosé reaches a fashionable frenzy and Gotham has as many as 10 different rosé wines for guests to choose from in peak drink pink season. However, there is one rosé producer that holds a special place in Heidi's heart - Château Minuty from Provence. Heidi first encountered the wines of Château Minuty while honeymooning in France. Of course, drinking rosé in Provence with the love of your life is a dream come true but Heidi believes that the quality of Château Minuty shines through no matter where you sip it.
Founded in 1936, Château Minuty is one of the last family-owned estates in the region and overlooks the Bay of St-Tropez, in the renowned Côtes de Provence. To be featured on a wine list as prestigious as Gotham's speaks volumes about Château Minuty. Heidi is impressed by Château Minuty for several important reasons - their wines beautifully express that "classic, crisp, light, fresh" Provençal style of rosé and it is a family-owned winery that offers "quality and consistency." My first in-depth encounter with Château Minuty was a few months ago at Gotham -- winery owner and grandson of the founder, François Matton, hosted a lovely dinner that perfectly paired their wines with Gotham's superb cuisine. Heidi was a professional and welcoming presence during our meal and kept our glasses flowing with Minuty. I recently met up with Heidi to follow-up on that rosé filled evening and to get her tasting notes on what she describes as the "balanced and beautiful" wines of Château Minuty. (Prices listed below are suggested retail prices for Château Minuty at retailers. Of course, if you are in NYC drop by Gotham and order a glass or bottle from their list.)
"M" de Minuty 2016 ($20)
A blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah, Heidi describes "M" as "light, salmon pink, crisp, dry, mineral-driven. "Light and easy," this is a great aperitif wine but Heidi also recommends lighter foods like strawberry & kale salad, light fish, ceviche, and oysters. This is a bright and lively wine with amazing aromatics and texture -- an excellent expression of a classic rosé from Provence.
Rose et Or 2016 ($40)
A classically trained dancer, it isn't surprising that Heidi takes inspiration from ballet to describe this mostly Grenache rosé, with a touch of Tibouren, that is produced from specific parcels in the Minuty vineyard. "Super elegant. Ballet pink color. That's what I think of when I think of this wine, elegance and finesse. This wine has beautiful aromatics, the peach really jumps out. Bright raspberry, citrus notes, a little bit of orange. It's so complex, every time you go back to the nose more fruit jumps out. So expressive on the nose. On the palate, it has a bit more weight and balance on the acidity. This is a bit more complex and terroir-driven. Even the bottle itself is so elegant." Recommended food pairings from Château Minuty include Bouillabaisse (classic Provençal fish stew) and Asian food.
"281" 2016 ($75)
The prestigious limited-production 281 is Grenache dominant, with Syrah and Cinsault, and produced from old vines. Quite complex, Heidi describes the aromatics as "exotic tropical fruits, gooseberry, ruby red grapefruit. More intensity on the palate. Voluptuous. Expressive." Suggested pairings from the winemaker include risotto with scallops and grilled prawns.
In our conversation, Heidi shared the importance of exploring wine from it's birthplace and Provence is the leading producer of rosé. Château Minuty is a wonderful way to discover the delicious diversity of Provençal rosé from a family-owned winery that creates elegant, terroir-driven wines that respect the land.
