A plot selection of the winery’s three main terroirs goes into this vintage. Grenache from a single clone is joined by the winery’s wonderful Syrah to bring in the spicy and peppery aftertaste. Like the rest of the estate, the grapes are grown with the HEV certification (High Environmental Value) with specific ground cover based on soil type and exposure. The grapes are hand-picked, something that’s essential as it locks in the grape’s integrity but is so rare. Next comes Jean-Etienne and François Matton’s expertise, knowledge of the vineyard, and delicate touch from winemaking to bottling to produce this extraordinary vintage.

It is best served chilled (10-12°) rather than cold, so the 281 can be beautifully paired with flavoursome dishes and premium shellfish, whether served simply like roasted lobster, rock lobster in banana leaf or cooked in a scallop risotto. Spicy dishes like Peking duck for its sweet and sour flavour, beef curry for its fragrant spices or delicious yakitori grilled with its sweet sauce. Summery salads are served with lobster, avocado, and grapefruit quarters. Sophisticated berry desserts.

Everything for these special wines begins in the vineyards. As part of a continual improvement approach to lessen the impact of its operations on the environment, the Château's vines are grown using sustainable methods without the use of weedkillers or pesticides. One of the last properties in the Côtes de Provence, Château Minuty harvests all of its grapes by hand to guarantee their absolute purity. The operation is run by Jean-Etienne and François Matton, who have a strong connection to their land and have received their knowledge and skills from their ancestors.