From planting the vines to pressing the grapes…. It is a great pleasure today for Jean-Marc to present to you his first Provence rosé. (photo of Jean-Marc and our son Max)
TODAY'S WORD: LA FEUILLE
: leaf; sheet
EXAMPLE SENTENCE
La vigne commence à donner un peu de fruit dès la troisième feuille (Ampelographie Française)
The vine begins to produce a bit of fruit around the third leaf (cycle).
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE
by Jean-Marc Espinasse
Listen to Jean-Marc read his story in French, click here
J'ai le plaisir de vous parler aujourd'hui de la façon dont j'ai élaboré Mas des Brun Rosé 2016. Ce vin est issu des vignes de Mourvèdre et Cinsault que nous avons plantées en 2014.
I am pleased to speak to you today about how I elaborated Mas des Brun Rosé 2016. This wine comes from the vines of Mourvèdre and Cinsault that we planted in 2014.
Deux ans et demi après la plantation de ces vignes, soit ce qu'on appelle "la troisième feuille," il est possible de vendanger et déclarer une production. Comme les vignes sont encore très jeunes, j'ai décidé de ne faire que du rosé.
Two and a half years after the planting of these vines, or the so-called "third leaf", it is possible to harvest and declare a production. As the vines are still very young, I decided to make only rosé.
Le 03 Septembre 2016, de 6H à 9H30 du matin, une équipe d'amis est venu vendanger les raisins avant qu'il ne fasse trop chaud. C'est très important de pouvoir rentrer en cave des raisins frais afin de pouvoir travailler le plus naturellement possible en cave. Puis, pendant la journée, nous avons pressé ces raisins, et le jus, après avoir été clarifié, est parti naturellement en fermentation alcoolique.
On September 3, 2016, from 6:00 am to 9:30 am, a team of friends came to harvest the grapes before it was too hot. It is very important to be able to get the freshly picked grapes right to the cellar in order to work as naturally as possible in the cellar. Then, during the day, we pressed these grapes, and the juice, after being clarified, started to go naturally into alcoholic fermentation.
Après un nouveau soutirage, la fermentation malo-lactique est intervenue naturellement. Il est très rare que l'on fasse faire cette fermentation dans le sud de France car elle diminue le niveau d'acidité mais j'ai décidé de la faire pour deux raisons importantes :
– Parce que pour bloquer cette fermentation, il faut rajouter du souffre, ce que je ne veux pas puisque je veux faire un vin naturel
– Parce que la fermentation malo-lactique donne du gras au vin et lui apporte une dimension gastronomique tout en ayant un faible taux d'alcool (12%)
After a new racking, malo-lactic fermentation occurred naturally. It is very rare that this fermentation is done in the south of France because it decreases the level of acidity but I decided to do it for two important reasons:
– Because to block this fermentation, it is necessary to add sulfur, which I do not want since I want to make a natural wine
– Because malo-lactic fermentation gives fat to the wine and gives it a gastronomic dimension while having a low alcohol content (12%).
Au final, j'ai élaboré un rosé digeste et structuré à la fois. Il se boira plutôt en mangeant du poisson mais aussi des viandes blanches et les desserts. Il me plait aussi parce qu'il est totalement naturel. Si vous avez l'occasion de le déguster, j'espère qu'il vous plaira aussi.
In the end, I elaborated a rosé of high drink-ability and structure at the same time. It is best tasted along with fish but also white meats and desserts. I also like it because it is totally natural. If you have the opportunity to taste it, I hope you will also like it.
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Bravo, Jean-Marc! Salut! à la vôtre santé! et Merci beacoup! Judith in NC, USA
We’ve tasted (and bought) Jean-Marc’s rosé. It is EXCELLENT and we strongly recommend it.
If you weren’t sure whether or not to go for it, hesitate no longer. You won’t regret buying some of this superb, organic rosé.
In fact, we’re drinking a glass now and thoroughly enjoying every mouthful.
And ……. we weren’t paid a penny by Jean-Marc or Kristi to say any of this!!
Hi Jean-Marc & Kristi!
Thanks for the post today! I am going to see if Cork & Fork will allow me to order bottle of your Rosé! Congratulations and Best Wishes on your move to La Ciotat! How do you pronounce Ciotat?
Really enjoyed this post and also the ones lately in the area of your new home. Only missed Smokey sneaking in the background.
Also, happy that you’re posting more often lately.
Thanks!
Sheila
Bien fait Jean-Marc! Félicitations! So happy to see your Rosé is coming to Phoenix! But I might order from Texas anyway – can’t wait to try it 🙂
I’m excited to find it in l.a. soon!
I offer a more accurate translation into English of the French verb élaborer and of the word digèste as used by Jean-Marc: see text in capital letters below:
Au final, j’ai ÉLABORÉ UN ROSÉ DIGESTE et structuré à la fois.
In the end, I DEVELOPED] a rosé EASILY DIGESTIBLE and structure[D] at the same time:
Before offering the above changes, I studied both the English and he french verbs “to elaborate” and all the usages.
Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary unabridged
Rosé wines have a place at American tables. Félicitations, Jean-Marc et toute la famille et tous les amis!
J’ajoute des corrections : pas de ] après DEVELOPED et French avec un F Pas f.
What a wonderful post.
Thanks so much for the specific locations where the rose is sold.
Any in New York?
Anyway, my mother lives near Washington, so I will try Cork & Fork next weekend.
Merci! Sante!
I like the no sulphur insistence and wish that the win could be bought economically where I live in South Africa. We have lots of superb wines, but very few are offered without sulphate.
Thank you for your helpful translation, Joanne.
Loved your post, and the lesson. Congratulations, Jean-Marc
Our dear Kristi and Jean Marc,
Not only a wonderfully informative post with accompanying beautiful pictures,but the language lesson is most helpful,both words and,especially,pronunciation.
Thank You both! You make such a terrific team!
Love
Natalia XO
Merci for keeping the story simple enough so I could understand it in French. I look forward to trying your wine next month, in France. Do you sell anywhere near Bordeaux?
Dommage pour moi que je vis en Australie et ne peut pas acheter ce beau vin naturel 🙁
Especially as I cannot take wines with sulphur or preservatives which can trigger asthma.
Possibly my all time favorite post, Kristi! It’s so helpful to hear the story in JM’s own voice. Plus we now have the pleasure of knowing we’ll soon be able to drink this gorgeous and natural rosé in Provence. You know we are HUGE fans — please save us some bottles!
Jean-Marc we so enjoyed a bottle of your Mas des Brun Rosé this week-end. I am saving the other bottles for warmer weather. Très spécial !
K and JM-
I know JM has been to Boston, because we have met at a wine tasting there, but do you know of The WIne and Cheese Cask, in Somerville, Ma? The owner often travels to taste and import…
Thanks for this post Jean-Marc .So interesting to learn about wine . & to learn new words in French I see the use of the subjunctive too,my bete noire !!!
This wine is delicious. Purchased a bottle in Houston last Saturday. Wish I had a case for this summer. Bravo JM. And all his assistants.
It was fun to listen to Jean-Marc and follow the French and English text. One of my goals for visiting France is to work on the vendage in France one day. Does Jean Marc accept volunteers? Merci!
Hi, Mary. Yes, volunteers are welcome…but this year we are not sure to be here.
I was thrilled to find Mas des Brun rose at a local wine shop in Portland Oregon. I bought a bottle for myself and one for a friend who also enjoys your blog. We tried it last night and —c’est delicieux!