Ch. Puech-Haut
Argali Rose
Provence
2024

The producer

Château Puech-Haut, established in 1981 by Gérard Bru, is a prominent wine estate in the Languedoc region of France, near Montpellier. The estate spans approximately 200 hectares, with vineyards planted on diverse soils, including clay and limestone, contributing to the complexity of its wines. Château Puech-Haut produces a range of wines, notably the Prestige Rouge, a blend of Grenache and Syrah from 40- to 70-year-old vines, fermented in concrete to preserve fruit purity. The estate has collaborated with esteemed consultants like Michel Rolland, Claude Gros, and Philippe Cambie, enhancing its reputation for quality. Committed to sustainable practices, the vineyards are managed biodynamically, reflecting a dedication to environmental stewardship. 

The wine

Château Puech-Haut's Argali Rosé is a distinguished wine from the Languedoc region, crafted from a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Cinsault grapes sourced from vineyards northeast of Montpellier, around Saint-Drezéry and Pic Saint Loup. The vineyards are characterized by "galets roulés" pebbles over a clay and limestone base, contributing to the wine's unique minerality. The 2022 vintage of Argali Rosé is noted for its elegantly dry flavor, with only 0.9 grams of residual sugar, offering a balanced and refreshing profile. On the nose, it presents aromas of mulberries, blackberries, black currants, and blueberries, complemented by hints of sun-warmed rocks and forest floor. The palate is characterized by a luscious, creamy texture with uplifting acidity, providing tension, precision, and focus. This rosé pairs well with a variety of dishes, including stuffed vegetables and paella, making it a versatile choice for both casual and formal dining experiences.

We choose our wines based on a range of criteria (see how we choose our wines) of which critic scores is just one. Rather than simply highlight the best score to promote a wine, our average critic score is calculated from the scores provided by several respected wine critics, who we follow for specific regions. They do not represent all critic scores and, wherever possible, we try and give more weight to more recent reviews. Where appropriate we consider market-based scores like Global Wine Score or Wine Searcher Average scores.

As a rule, we look to offer wines that achieve a 92/100 average critic score or better and frankly a lot of very good wines simply don’t make the cut. As a high-end provider we want to reflect that positioning in the quality of wines we offer. Such wines are only a tiny fraction of those generally on offer in the market. We believe that an average score is a more conservative and representative approach, but it is still subjective and only offered as a guide to our customers, who will (and should) do their own research. We will add individual critic scores to our website in the future.