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
Whole-cluster fermentation of Grenache Gris and Macabeu in stainless steel tanks. The Grenache Gris imparts a salmon hue that evolves over time into a beautiful copper color.
Twelve months of bottle aging, without any contact with wood, highlights the minerality of the Grenache and the typicality of the schist soils.
Tasting
This "Rosé against the trend" contrasts with its tannic structure and deep bitterness, reminiscent of an IPA beer or a Gin Tonic.
Tatsima Gris stands in contrast to the typical aperitif rosé. With its surprising tannic structure, it blends fresh walnut and aromas of candied melon. This wine is perfectly suited to accompany spicy dishes from Eastern cuisine.
