In typical fashion, toward the middle of the summer, once our initial thirst for pale-colored, delicate Rosé has been quenched, the real Rosé heavy-hitters begin to arrive in the store. As temperatures rise, the color of these wines seems to deepen, the pale pinks of spring giving way to the deep, near-reds of summer. Of course this is a generalization as we continue to offer many excellent light-bodied Rosés. We hesitate to read too much into the release date of these wines, but we suspect late summer Rosés are more likely to ferment naturally and with their own yeast, their makers not in a rush to finish the wine, bottle, and ship to the states. Fortunately, while our mid-Summer Rosés may be, on average, a bit more “serious,” they are no less thirst quenching and enjoyable on a hot day, especially if you have the ability to barbeque as many of these wines are perfectly suited to grilled food.
Let us draw your attention to a few special favorites from the list below. From the south of France: Tibouren from Clos Cibonne in the Côtes de Provence, wines that are aged under a thin veil of surface yeast giving them depth and complexity; Mas Jullien and Mas Cal Demoura from two Languedoc masters; Chateau Pibarnon, a superb Bandol Domaine; a new wine from Chateau Pradeaux! From the north of France: the best release of Francois Pinon Brut Rosé we’ve tasted in years; Bourgeuil Rosé from our very own Stéphane Guion – a wine that is exclusive to Chambers Street Wines and one of the best values in Rosé to be found; Chinon Rosé from the lovely Olga Raffault. From Italy: wild yeast Rosato from Burlotto, Bonavita, Terre Nerre, and Cornelissen. The List goes on… (Let us also add that we have two Rosé tastings coming up: Rosé from the Neal Rosenthal portfolio on Thursday, 7/26, and an all-out Rosé extravaganza on Saturday, 8/4!) Salut! -Sophie
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Bart 2012 Marsannay Rose
A lovely rose of Pinot Noir from Martin Bart in Marsannay, the 2012 is a bit lighter and fresher than usual, with a pale pink color. Pretty hints of strawberry lead to a refreshingly light palate of berry, citrus and red-currant fruit with good acidity. This is a lovely wine that will be very versatile at the table and refreshingly delicious by itself all summer long (and fall and winter, too) and it's a great value!
Pradeaux 2012 Cotes de Provence Rose "Chateau"
A blend of Cinsault, Mourvèdre, and a little bit of Barbaroux, the wine certainly does justice to the name of this famous Bandol Domaine. Fresh yet weighty, the wine delivers some of the earthy, savoriness of classic Bandol Rosé, thankfully without the cloying fruitiness of many Côtes de Provence Rosés. We think you'll want more than one bottle of this, so make sure to grab at least two... if not more. -msb
Laguerre 2011 Cotes du Roussillon Eos Rose
Frankly, I don't often buy rosé wine from the Roussillon because it is often fruity and high in alcohol. As someone who prefers the drier, steelier styles from the Loire, and Burgundy, and the saline, delicate rosés from Provence, Grenache based rosé can feel heavy. On the other hand, when well-made and native yeast fermented, these darker, more red wine-like pink wines can have beautiful authenticity and sense of place. Eric Laguerre's rosé is made from 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. Like the white, this rosé is matured in barrel for eight months but shows no hints of barrel on the nose or palate. There's a sense of deep sweetness to the fruit, but the palate remains crisp at a modest 13% alcohol. The aromas and flavors are of sweet cherries and cranberries and, as with the white from Laguerre, this rosé will improve open in your fridge over a day or two. -msb
