The history of the chateau illustrates the ongoing relationship between the vineyard and a long line of wine growers on an exceptional terroir. Located in the commune of Meyreuil and just four kilometres from Aix en Provence, the old bastide of the Grands Carmes d'Aix monks, now the Chateau Simone, has been in the hands of the Rougier family since 1830.The Homage to "Jean Rougier" As the representative of the fourth generation of Rougiers on the domain, he played a leading role in the decisive period when the grand historic terroirs of Vins de France acquired the AOC status. As a relentless and tireless worker, he identified with this vineyard that the previous generation had reconstituted after the phylloxera crisis. He had a firm grasp of its exceptional character and embellished and enlarged it. As a poet and musician and a disciple of Fréderic Mistral, he mastered all the delicate nuances of the Provençal language and gave full expression to his personality as a wine grower in a series of vintages in remarkable bottles. In 1947 he applied for the "Chateau Simone" AOC and on 28 April 1948 he obtained the AOC for the Palette terroir.Vineyard On slopes with northern exposure, calcareous scree soils. Age average More than 50 years. Traditional wine-growingno weedkillers. Varieties Grenache 45%, mourvèdre 30%, cinsaut 5%, "secondary" grape variety 20% including syrah, castet, manosquin, carignan, various muscatel. Harvest Harvested exclusively by hand, when the grapes are fully mature, then sorted, fermentation whith native yeasts and temperature control. Vinification Light crushing and destemming, vatting in small tanks with pumping-over, maceration for 15 to 21 days. Pomace pressed in vertical hydraulic presses. Storage, Maturing Wood storage only, first in small casks for 8 months, then for one year in oak barrels of different ages, blending for bottling conducted without filtration.