Two Rosés, One Region: Patrick Schmitt MW Tastes Eau de Provence and L'Exclusive
Provence has long been the spiritual home of rosé, but as this summer's tasting proves, the region is far from a one-note story. Wine critic and Master of Wine Patrick Schmitt puts two very different expressions of Provence rosé side by side — each with its own philosophy, its own winemaking approach, and its own place at the table.
Eau de Provence Rosé: Modern Luxury, Regional Breadth
The first wine, Eau de Provence Rosé, takes a curatorial approach — fruit is carefully selected from vineyards across Provence rather than a single estate, with the goal of capturing the freshness and elegance the region is known for. What sets it apart, according to Schmitt's tasting notes, is a distinctive mineral character running through the wine, giving it structure alongside its lighter, summer-ready appeal. It's a rosé built for versatility: the kind of bottle equally at home on a terrace or at a polished dinner table.
L'Exclusive: Estate-Grown, Biodynamic, Gastronomic
The second wine takes the opposite route. L'Exclusive is a premium cuvée made entirely from estate-grown fruit, farmed biodynamically and shaped with precision winemaking. The result, in Schmitt's assessment, is a more complex and food-focused style of rosé — one that moves beyond the pale, easy-drinking stereotype and into genuinely gastronomic territory. This is a wine designed to be paired thoughtfully rather than simply poured.
Two Philosophies, One Message
Placed together, these two wines tell a bigger story about where Provence rosé is heading. One is about accessible, curated luxury; the other about single-estate precision and biodynamic rigour. Both, in their own way, challenge the idea that rosé is a simple summer wine — proof that the region's winemakers are pushing the category further with every vintage.
