The art of blending: at the heart of the creation of our Cru Classé rosés

At Château Saint-Maur Cru Classé, the end of the year marks a key moment in the winemaking cycle: the blending process. November is always an intense period, when collective tastings and reflection punctuate the work in the cellar. It is in this dynamic that the cuvées that will carry the identity of the vintage are born, while preserving the signature character of Saint-Maur.

A decisive moment: revealing the identity of the vintage

Each vintage tells a different story.
Even in Provence, where the regularity of the climate is often cited as an example, the nuances of the year shape the personality of the wines: maturity, freshness, structure, aromatic expression... nothing is left to chance.

The aim of our assemblies is twofold:

respect the vintage effect,
preserve the identity of each cuvéeOur rosés, whites and reds are all Cru Classé in Côtes de Provence.

Finding that balance requires precision, memory, intuition... and a lot of tasting.

Collegial tastings for high-precision work

In November, several sessions take place around the same table.
Glass by glass, vat by vat, the technical team compare notes, feelings and hypotheses. Each test is discussed, compared and refined.

This work is being carried out by :

Patrick GallianoOperations manager, oenologist
Damien Sansoassistant technical director, oenologist
Amélie Rimbautcellar master, oenologist
and all the cellar teams, whose expertise and sensitivity are essential.

Together, they taste, adjust and recompose.
The role of each individual is decisive: some have a very fine aromatic memory, others have a sharp technical understanding of balance, and still others have a sure instinct for consistency in taste.

Creating a cuvée is the work of a craftsman... sometimes even an artist.

Blending a Provence Cru Classé rosé is the work of a goldsmith.
Each grape variety - Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Tibouren - contributes a nuance of colour, texture or aroma. The art lies in finding the right dialogue between them.

A sunnier vintage will sometimes require more tension.
A cooler year will offer a natural precision that must be preserved.
And some of the estate's iconic cuvées require absolute respect for their identity: elegance, saltiness, finesse and freshness.

It's not a recipe.
It's a skill.
A hand, an eye, an intimate understanding of our Provence terroir.

The high standards that are the hallmark of Château Saint-Maur Cru Classé

Every year, this collective effort produces wines :

precise in their expression,
bright and balanced,
true to the soul of the estate,
representative of our Saint-Tropez terroir.

Our blends reflect the strength of a particular Côtes de Provence Classified Growth :
control, consistency and high standards.

Towards the birth of the 2025 vintage

Testing continued for a few more weeks until the perfect match was found.
Then comes the moment when a cuvée 'comes into its own': the harmony is there, and so is the common thread running through the vintage.

The wines then enter a new phase in their history: maturing and bottling.

Year after year, Château Saint-Maur Cru Classé produces rosés, whites and reds that combine the authenticity of the vintage with the house style - an identity recognised both in Provence and internationally.