The Estate
Still a cellar master in Saint-Émilion, Julien Ditté envisioned a project with his friend Olivier Cazenave (Château de Bel) to reclaim old parcels of Grenache Noir. They decided to classify their wines as "Vin de France" to maintain greater freedom in crafting their cuvées.
The project began with the first vintage in 2011, driven by the desire to showcase the aging potential of wines from the Aspres terroir while vinifying without artifice. Over the years, this terroir has proven its ability to produce long-aging wines.
They named their project "Amistat", the Catalan word for friendship.
The wines are crafted as naturally as possible on a magnificent terroir at the foothills of Mont Canigou—rolling low-altitude hills interspersed with woodlands, scrub, and heathland. The initial idea was to work with Grenache, an indigenous grape variety, using massal selection. The project later expanded to include a parcel of Macabeu in 2012 and a centenary Carignan vine in 2020.
The Wine
From the pressing stage, Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, and Macabeu are blended to bring complexity to the wine.
The juice ferments in demi-muids (600L French oak barrels) for 12 months, allowing it to settle naturally over the winter.
At the end of aging, the wine is racked by sight and left to rest in stainless steel tanks before bottling. It is neither fined nor filtered—its natural clarification occurs during the winter.
The natural carbon dioxide from the alcoholic fermentation is carefully preserved to protect the wine’s aromas.
Tasting
Amistat Blanc is a full-bodied white wine, whose power stands up to rich and intense dishes. The nose opens with ripe fruit, fresh walnuts, and unfolds aromas of pear, kumquat, candied lemons, and ginger.
