Location and surface area of the Domaines Ott* vineyard
A unique feature in Provence, under the emblematic name Domaines Ott* are united three estates: Château de Selle and Clos Mireille in AOC Côtes de Provence, as well as Château Romassan in AOC Bandol.
The Domaines Ott* terroir thus extends over 261 hectares of vines, including 230 hectares planted and 31 left fallow.
While Château Romassan oversees a terroir of 90 planted hectares (out of 95 hectares), Château de Selle covers 84 planted hectares (out of 195 hectares) and Clos Mireille 56 planted hectares (out of 174 hectares).
What is the history of Domaines OTT*?
Marcel Ott, the pioneer
In 1896, Marcel Ott, a young agronomic engineer from Alsace, settled in Provence, driven by the ambition of bringing forth exceptional wines from a vineyard with a thousand-year-old tradition that had been devastated by phylloxera.
Marcel Ott gradually acquired three estates, replanting their vineyards with noble grape varieties.
A family story spanning more than a century
Nearly 125 years after their creation, Domaines Ott* continue, under the leadership of Christian and Jean-François Ott, to craft with passion and rigor great wines from Côtes de Provence and Bandol across each of the three estates.
In 2004, Domaines Ott* joined the House of Champagne Louis Roederer.
Everything you need to know about the Domaines Ott* terroir
Location and exposure
Benefiting from a terroir spread across several communes within the AOC Côtes de Provence and Bandol, Domaines Ott* produce wines that enhance the aromatic nuances imparted by the mosaic of soils across each of the three properties.
Château de Selle, historic Provence
The first of the three estates acquired in 1912 by Marcel Ott, Château de Selle is located in Taradeau, on high limestone hills inland. At the time of its acquisition, no vines were planted on this arid terroir composed of 40 to 50% stones; today, these soils, containing a smaller proportion of fertile clay, give rise to wines produced in limited quantities and renowned for their character and great elegance.
The vines, averaging nineteen years of age, are planted on terraced plots and restanques. This wine-growing area benefits from abundant sunshine and ideal conditions for vine development, with mild winters, temperate springs, and hot, dry summers. The grape varieties include cabernet sauvignon, grenache, cinsault, and syrah.
Clos Mireille, idyllic Provence
In the 1930s, Marcel Ott fell under the spell of Clos Mireille. Overlooking the sea and located in La Londe Les Maures, this former property notably includes a building constructed by Benedictine monks in the 18th century. Marcel Ott undertook extensive restructuring work on this terroir, which had previously been planted with mulberry trees, olive trees, and umbrella pines.
The vines, averaging sixteen years of age, grow on soils composed mainly of schist and clay, benefiting year-round from strong sunshine combined with sea spray. Together, these conditions are ideal for crafting a wine with a singular and inimitable style.
Château Romassan, in the heart of Bandol lands
Following the acquisition of the estate in 1956, the Ott family undertook extensive work, both on the 18th-century building and in the vineyard, including a complete restructuring of small plots and planting exclusively noble grape varieties.
Averaging twenty-five years of age, the vineyard located in the western Var rests on poor soils composed of limestone, sandstone, and marl. Mourvèdre, a native grape variety ideally suited to the arid climate, along with grenache, cinsault, and syrah, make up the plantings.
Geology: Three estates expressing the nuances of great wine terroirs
Through their distinct geological characteristics, the three estates that make up Domaines Ott* produce wines that harmoniously and generously express the nuances of each of their original terroirs.
The predominantly stony soils of Château de Selle, with clay-limestone subsoils, give each cuvée a unique character, harmoniously combining finesse and power, as well as depth and vibrant color.
The privileged location of Clos Mireille, on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, combining a unique microclimate with clay subsoil, gives rise to expressive and refined wines.
Finally, Château Romassan, where the subtle combination of an arid climate and poor soil is ideally expressed through powerful and structured wines.
Climate: vines benefiting from ideal sunshine
The AOC Côtes de Provence, like the AOC Bandol, benefits from a Mediterranean climate. This climate is characterized by abundant sunshine as well as warm and dry conditions for most of the year.
Viticultural practices
Domaines Ott* pay particular attention to managing both their own vineyards and those of their partner growers in an environmentally respectful way. This rigor notably includes the requirement of HVE (High Environmental Value) certification.
The deep respect for soil and vines advocated across each of the three estates is reflected in natural viticulture without chemical inputs, manual harvesting, pruning that ensures vine longevity, as well as extended fallow periods to promote better soil regeneration.
Domaines Ott* began converting to organic farming as early as 2019. Thus, 2022 is the first vintage certified Ecocert (AB certification).
Winemaking
One of the defining features of Domaines Ott* lies in the deliberate limitation of yields, in order to produce only grapes with a deep and intense aromatic profile. During harvest, the family’s exacting standards are reflected in rigorous sorting to retain only grapes of optimal quality. A strict selection of the harvest is also carried out during blending, with 70 to 80% of the juices selected. From this selection, only the finest juices are ultimately retained. Finally, to develop the complexity of each cuvée while enhancing its aromatic profile, aging and stabilization periods are extended.
The style of Domaines Ott* wines
A unique style and bottle
Created by René Ott, grandson of Marcel Ott, in 1930, the iconic Domaines Ott* bottle has, over the vintages, become the emblem of quality for all the cuvées. With its slender curves and instantly recognizable shape, this bottle echoes the elegance of the amphorae once used to hold wine.
Wine profile
Each cuvée crafted by Domaines Ott* authentically expresses the style and terroir of its estate of origin.
The wines of Château de Selle are renowned for their finesse, balance, and minerality. Clos Mireille charms with wines of intensely generous and fruity expression. The cuvées of Château Romassan reveal a fuller-bodied character, combined with a broad and structured framework.
Crafted from estate-grown grapes as well as fruit sourced from three partner winegrowers, the red, white, and rosé wines bearing the By Ott signature offer a refined and accessible invitation to discover the wines of Domaines Ott*.
The latest innovation is the Étoile rosé cuvée from Domaines Ott*. Produced as Vin de France, this “winemaker’s” wine is a free composition aimed at deepening the expression of the finest terroirs of Clos Mireille, Château de Selle, and Château Romassan.
