Palette

Styles

Principal grape varieties

Accessory grape varieties

Terroir

• The geographical area lies within a natural amphitheatre surrounded by woodland, drained by the small river Arc, at the foot of the Montagne Sainte-Victoire.
• The plots are delineated on Lutetian tertiary limestone formations, corresponding to the lacustrine limestones of Montaiguet and Langesse, which geologists also refer to as the 'Palette' horizon.
• The well-drained, stony, clay-limestone soils have developed mainly on the lacustrine limestones of Langesse and Montaiguet and on their border colluvium.
• The topography creates hillsides and footslopes benefiting from an average annual sunshine of 3,000 hours and average annual rainfall of 650 millimetres, with 300 sunny days per year by another measure.
• The opening of the Arc valley onto the Étang de Berre brings sea breezes that temper the intensity of summer sun and maintain a slight nocturnal humidity, promoting optimal ripeness in the grapes.
• The vines are protected from northerly winds by the hills of Langesse and Grand Cabri, though the Arc valley remains exposed to the Mistral. (via Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0)

• King René, known as the 'vigneron king', introduced into Provence in the fifteenth century the 'Panse' varieties and muscat grapes, which are still present in the Palette appellation area.
• Carmelite monks, owners of the Bastide de Meyreuil from 1551, were already ageing wines in underground cellars they had themselves carved into the hillside.
• The appellation, recognised on 28 April 1948, features a varied blend of varieties combining classic Mediterranean grapes (Bourboulenc, Clairette, Cinsaut, Grenache, Mourvèdre) and ancient varieties such as Brun Fourcat, Colombaud and Panse du Roy René.

• The deep-coloured red wines are produced mainly from Grenache and Mourvèdre, combined with ancient grape varieties that have disappeared elsewhere in the southern zone.
• The red wines display fine, elegant aromas of red fruits, frequently of leather and cocoa, with ample, rounded tannins that require extended oak ageing.
• The white wines, produced mainly from Clairette and Clairette rose, display floral, balsamic and pine-nut aromas, with a remarkable ageing potential.
• The rosé wines, produced mainly from Grenache and Cinsaut, are balanced and refined, with floral and fruity aromas and good structure on the palate.

• The combination of a dry mesoclimate, an amphitheatre topography sheltered from northerly winds, shallow soils on clay-limestone formations and hillside slopes provides favourable ripening conditions for all the grape varieties.

Facts drawn from the specification's terroir-link section by automatic interpretation — see the source.

All appellations in France

Sources

• Product specification (BO Agri, PDF) — approved 4 juillet 2024 publié au JORF du 7 juillet 2024, JORF 7 juillet 2024
• Official INAO text (show_texte)
• INAO product entry
• Official trade body site — CIVP