Château Estoublon lies in the heart of the Alpilles mountains, a region immortalised for its connection to the indomitable Domaine Trévallon. Its history begins with Ernest Scheider who, as a great lover of Provence, bought the domaine with its olive groves in their rather poor state. His daughter Valérie eventually came round to the idea of taking over the estate which she now runs with her husband Rémy Reboul. What the latter lacked in technical know-how he certainly makes up for with enthusiasm, turning to Eloi Dürrbach for practical advice and assistance before managing the winemaking alone. These wines are now safe bets from the superb Baux de Provence appellation. Viticulture is organic.

The red from Château d’Estoublon is an lesson in finesse and delicacy. The flattering nose offers a splendid interpretation of these regional varieties, giving way to a soft and supple palate with crunch and a hint of spice. This cuvée is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cabernet grapes which have been hand-picked and vinified in conical vats with regular pumping over (pumping wine from the bottom of the vat over the fermenting must) and punch-downs (breaking up and submerging the layer of skins, stems and seeds). Maturation takes place in barrels over 18 months and the wines are bottled after blending and fining but are always unfiltered. For food pairing transcendence try drinking alongside a suckling veal chop with new potatoes: success guaranteed.