If rosé consumption trends are any indication you may not need a reminder that this is the perfect time of year to drink pink wine. In the unlikely event that the rosé trend has escaped your notice, or if you are just looking for delicious rosé choices, then we’re pretty sure this group of rosé wines will be of interest to you.
This collection of wines, both purchased and received as tasting samples, takes us along France’s Mediterranean with stops in Languedoc, Côtes du Rhône and beyond to Provence. Just for good measure we’ve included a rosato from Tuscany. There are quite a few grape varieties in various combinations represented here, which is pretty typical of rosé wines and one of the things that makes them so interesting. All are dry rosé wines meaning they are not sweet.
2017 Côté Mas Rosé Aurore, Pays d’Oc IGP — ballet slipper pink in the glass with aromas of blackberries, flowers and tart cherries. Ripe blackberry and floral flavors echo the aromas along with ripe watermelon and tart acidity. 12.5% abv. 1 liter bottle (33% more). Sample. SRP $10.99
This rosé is priced and packaged for a gathering. Serve it on a warm afternoon and you will be provided with light and refreshing relief from the heat.
Jean-Claude Mas is a fourth-generation winegrower and the first generation in his family to crossover to winemaking with his Domaines Paul Mas, named for his father. The wines of Domaines Paul Mas include a broad range of wines produced throughout the Languedoc-Roussillon.
This rosé is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 20% Syrah. Production notes indicate each variety was vinified separately from free-run juice that was fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel before a further forty-day aging on the lees in cement vats. Whew. It all works deliciously.
2017 Domaine Le Clos des Lumières L’éclat Rosé, Côtes du Rhône — pale salmon in the glass with generous aromas of roses along with ripe blackberries and raspberries. Generous berry flavors echo the aromas along with citrus zest and dusty earth which finishes long and with a bit of citrus pith. This wine has plenty of flavor and a bit of weight and tannins which add to the complexity. 13.5% abv. $10.25 is the regular retail at a local wine shop. We paid $8.50 (discounted at the tasting).
This wine is a screaming deal and super delicious. It makes me hungry for chicken tacos. It is a blend of 40% Cinsault, 30% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre. The grapes were destemmed and crushed then left on the fine lees until the aromas and complexity suited the winemaker.
The importer, Grape Expectations, describes Les Clos des Luminères as “a 50 hectare family farm founded in 1946 by the grandfather of the domaine’s current vigneron, Gérald Serrano. The ambitious and talented Gérald Serrano is solely responsible for the recent “coming out” of this estate – Prior to taking things over in 2003 Gérald’s father was selling all grapes on the estate to the local cooperative.”
Might I suggest you support family farming by purchasing this wine?
2017 Chateau Roquefeuille Rosé In The Air, Côtes de Provence — very pale salmon in the glass aromas of blackberries, raspberries and dusty earth. Berry flavors mingle with significant, dusty minerality. Bright citrusy acidity keeps this wine light on its feet and very refreshing. 13% abv. Sample. SRP $22.50
Don’t let the relatively pale color of this wine lull you into expecting a wine lacking in flavor. It isn’t the loudest voice in the room, but it makes itself heard. It’s easy drinking, makes you pay attention and is very refreshing.
Production notes indicate this wine is a blend of 55% Grenache, 25% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 5% Vermentino. The harvest was a bit early beginning on August 28, after a dry summer, and concluded on September 20.
2017 Ferraton Père & Fils Samorëns Rosé, Côtes du Rhône — lovely color in the glass – a bit deeper than ballet slipper pink. Restrained aromatics initially, eventually yielding aromas and flavors of blackberries, melon, roses, dusty gravel with citrusy acidity. The juicy acidity is noteworthy in this wine as is the dusty minerality behind the fruit flavors. 13.5% abv. Sample. SRP $15
We have tasted the 2015 and 2016 vintages of this delightful rosé (thanks to the ladies of Creative Palate Communications), and all have been delicious and those prior posts will give you a bit of background on Ferraton Père & Fils.
This rosé is reliably delicious and generally a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault, though I was unable to confirm the blend this vintage. It is one of two bottles in this group of rosé samples that remained in the refrigerator until gone.
2016 Domaine Sorin Rosé, Bandol — translucent, coppery-salmon in the glass with aromas of dark berries and dried herbs. Blackberry flavors along with dusty earth and a pop of cedar make for an intriguing flavor profile. Lovely acidity keeps this wine lively. Tannins add texture and complexity. The finish lasts a very long time. 13% abv. $18.50 is the regular retail at a local wine shop. We paid $15.73 (discounted at the tasting).
Easily the most complex rosé in this group. It could become an addiction. It is a blend of 60% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Carignan and 2016 is the current release of this intriguing rosé. Beyond that, I know nothing about how it is made.
Bandol is an appellation within the Provence wine region that lies above the Mediterranean port of the same name. Mourvèdre is planted extensively and is the star variety in the appellation’s low-vigor soils.
2017 Mazzei Tenuta Belguardo Rosato, Toscana IGP — translucent, coppery-salmon in the glass. Aromas are predominantly earthy with hints of dark fruit. Darker fruit flavors plus stone fruit mingle with earth, minerals and citrusy acidity. The flavor profile is substantial and long lasting. 13.5% abv. Sample. SRP $14.99
This rosé tastes distinctly different from the others in this group. More red wine flavors are evident in this rosé making it a great partner all kinds of food from charcuterie to grilled chicken or pork. Equal parts Sangiovese and Syrah are left on the skins (2 hours and 1 hour, respectively) before fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel.
The Mazzei family have been making wine in the Chianti Classico region for an astounding 24 generations. I guess they know a thing or two about Sangiovese. In the 1990s the family turned their attention to the Belguardo estate in Maremma, Tuscany having been drawn there by the local terroir.
I hope there is one or more rosé in this group that catches your attention. This time of year we almost always have one bottle (sometimes more) in the refrigerator. Our enjoyment of rosé wines will extend beyond today’s celebration (and beyond the south of France and Italy), though we are happy to have #NationalRoséDay as an excuse to drink rosé. We will be tasting and sharing our notes of the rosé wines we enjoy throughout the summer and beyond – if not here then on Instagram.
Cheers!
