Menu for july
2006 Rosé
Domaine de la Petite Cassagne Rosé Costières de Nimes 9.99
This was the rosé I fell in love with when I traveled to France in 2003. The setting is absolutely stunning and winemaker Diane de Puymorin is a dynamo. She farms organically and uses only sustainable winemaking practices. The wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault and has the loveliest coral pink color. This is a perfect summer quaffer with juicy strawberry flavors and rock licking minerality.
Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Rosé 22.99
Truly one of the most inspired rosés in the newsletter. This blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Mourvedre has a silky, elegant texture that seems to capture the essence of the beautiful Riviera town of its birth. It’s a wine to contemplate both because of price and pedigree. Don’t throw this one back with cheese and crackers, wait for a lovely grilled whole fish or some pasta with fresh sweet crabmeat.
Verget du Sud Vin de Pays Vaucluse Rosé de Syrah 9.99
Verget is one of those producers I always count on to provide a consistent, quality wine at a fair price. No glitz, no flash, just solid winemaking with consistently reliable fruit. This is a perfect summer libation with lean red currant/red raspberry fruit and 12% alcohol. Sip this poolside or bring it along to any family gathering or picnic. It has a screwcap making imbibing in out of the way places much more convenient.
Château de Roquefort Côtes de Provence Corail Rosé 13.99
Another terrific vintage from my favorite French rosé producer. As you might remember Corail is in reference to the coral color of the wine. The blend is Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, the usual suspects, but with the additional seasonings of white varietals, Clairette and Vermentino. It’s a juicy, mineral-spiked wine just cryin’ out for garlic, capers and olive oil.
Commanderie de Peyrassol Côtes du Provence Rosé 16.99
This is a gem of a producer with, unfortunately, a scant amount of wine to sell. The Commandarie is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. The estate’s emphasis is on juicy, watermelon and strawberry fruit with more body than you’d imagine from rosé. I also have a very small amount of the Chateau Peyrassol for 24.99 that has the addition of the ancient Provençal Tibouren grape provides aromatics and elegance.
Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rosé 26.99
Chateau Pradeaux has been in the Portalis family since before the French revolution. Today Cyrille Portalis maintains the domaine producing one of the most coveted Bandols from the region. As with other Bandol producers, their red wines are so prized that only small amounts of rosé are produced. A blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Mourvedre this is one of the richest, most complex rosés produced in France. It’s pricey, I know, but well worth the cash. I only have 1 case for those of you who like rosé esoterica.
Artazuri Navarra Rosado 10.99
The first time I visited Spain, I was shocked at all the pink wine the locals drank. At that time I wasn’t the pink crusader I’ve become. In fact, I must admit some disdain for all that pink drinking. In my mind, Spain was the land of red wine and red wine only. Thankfully, I’ve done a lot of therapy, confronted some issues and long held prejudices and I can honestly say I am not a pinkphobe. If you’re out there struggling with this issue, I suggest you grab a bottle of this magenta Grenache rosé and share it with your snobby red wine drinkin’ friends. If they still do not get it, tell them to go back to their air-conditioning, roast some prime rib and pull out an expensive Napa Cab, but as usual, I digress. Beware. This wine was not cold stabilized (it’s a good thing) and contains a fair amount of tartrates. Go to www.wineintro.com/glossary/c/coldstabilization.html for more information.
Château Lacombe Côtes du Ventoux Rosé 14.99
Château Lacombe was purchased in 2000 by Paul Jejune, the dynamic sixth generation winemaker and owner of Domain de Montpertuis in Châteauneuf du Pâpe. The wine is a beautiful salmon color with flavors of ripe raspberry and citrus peel. The blend is Grenache and Cinsault. Although this wine has a bit of an alcohol kick it remains light and zingy making it perfect with cheeses, salami or salty almonds.
Domaine de la Soucherie Rosé de Loire 14.99
Last year I featured my first rosé from the Loire (see below) and it was a knockout. When I was offered another, I thought I had better grab it up. A blend of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% old vine Grolleau, a Loire varietal that has low alcohol and high acidity. This is another austere, mineral laden rosé. It’s so dry; if you tasted this at room temperature, you’d swear you were drinking a red wine.
Domaine Noiré Chinon Rosé 14.99
This lipsmackingly refreshing rosé is full of bitter cherry, cranberry fruit. Domaine Noiré rosé is 100% Cabernet Franc and is serious stuff. It’s a wine that tasted blindfolded (I love that blindfold thing) tastes like a dry white wine. Jean-Max Manceau crafts a stony full flavored rosé from the limestone and chalk soil on his property. The result is a wine that’s electrified with acidity and citrus zest. Bring on the walleye.
