40% Ugni Blanc/20% Rolle (Vermentino)/40% blend: Clairette Blanche-Clairette Rose-Grenache Gris-Bourbelenc-Macabeu-Marsanne-Sauvignon-Semillon. La Providence is in Lambesc in the northern Provence. Its first, tiny vintage was 2021. This young domaine is focused entirely on local varieties, planted on sandy, stony limestone soils with little clay. The farming is certified-organic--hard won after a years-long conversion from the heavily conventional farming of the previous owners--and includes gentle working of the soils and the use of cover crops. The harvest into small bins is manual.
The Ugni Blanc is vinified separately: destemmed with berries kept whole for a spontaneous fermentation, 8-day maceration, malolactic fermentation and aging in oak vat. The other varieties remain in whole clusters for direct pressing, fermentation, malo and aging in concrete egg and used barrique. After 5 months of aging on their lees, the wines are blended and the final version bottled without filtration and with a very small, and the wine's first, dose of sulfur. Though La Providence lies within the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence AOC, the family has opted for Vin de France classification. 500-case production.
The Ugni Blanc is vinified separately: destemmed with berries kept whole for a spontaneous fermentation, 8-day maceration, malolactic fermentation and aging in oak vat. The other varieties remain in whole clusters for direct pressing, fermentation, malo and aging in concrete egg and used barrique. After 5 months of aging on their lees, the wines are blended and the final version bottled without filtration and with a very small, and the wine's first, dose of sulfur. Though La Providence lies within the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence AOC, the family has opted for Vin de France classification. 500-case production.
