Drink this stuff
***Just thought I would be on the leading edge of what is sure to be about a million articles on all things Rosé***
This is without a doubt my single favorite time of year. Everything is in full bloom, the damned mosquitos are still at a minimum and the latest crop of Rosé begins to flow. That's right, it's Rosé time. And if you are one of those people that can't get your head past 'that pink stuff' you're a moron. And that's fine, it means more for me.
Over the last week, I have been enjoying a few different labels and figured that I would share my findings. Just for the record, let me dispell a few myths and lay down some basic truths:
1. 'All rosé is sweet'. This is simply ridiculous. Unless of course the last time you had anything 'blush' was in 1987. Rosé (and that is what it should be called) can and does run the gamut from bone dry to rather sweet. It is this jack-hole's opinion that the drier the better.
2. 'White Zinfandel is a grape'. Again, wrong. This was simply a moniker created to help in selling the crap that it is. And truth be known, it worked like a bastard. White Zinfandel (and all rosé for that matter) is the result of an abbreviated maceration of the skins and juice. Think of it this way, grapes are like people, all the color is in the skins. As such, the less time the juice and skins are in contact, the less transfer of color from one to the other. Rememeber, two of the three grapes used in the production of Champagne are 'black'. Yet the majority of Champagne consumed is 'white'. Magic?
3. 'Pink wine is for girls'. There are variations on this theme like 'Real men don't drink pink' or the one I heard just yesterday in my shop 'My momma told me never drink anything pink'. Well, your mom is an idiot and you are too for listening to her. Of course, the guy who said this won't buy French wine. He'll drink, just so long as someone else pays for it. Somehow, this makes sense to him. Here's my take: Who cares if pink wine is for girls? I like girls, albeit one in particular. And I like wine. Put the two together and how bad could it be?
Enough of that, let us on to the wines:
Château Routas 'Rouviere' Coteaux Varois 2004
Every time I think about reviewing a wine from this house, I feel like I will come across as the poster boy for Routas. The truth is they make very good wines. They also price their wines accordingly. Considering that most people don't know where the Var is (it's in Provence), Routas does not enjoy the cachet that other regions do, so prices are quite reasonable. 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 30% Cinsault. Honestly, if I was afforded only one Rosé for the rest of my days, this would be it. First off, is the color. A beautiful hue of pink with a touch of orange. Absolutely translucent, it looks like spring. The aromatics come across with faint hints of rose petal and what I can best describe as unsweeted strawberries. The palate is very clean with flavors of light strawberry and cherry. The finish is bone dry (as any proper rosé should be) and the aftertaste, while existent is not cloying or cumbersome. Arguably the best wine for sitting on the porch watching the grass grow. I sell it for $13.00, but prices can/will vary depending on locale.
Sauvion Rosé d'Anjou 2003
Whereas, the Routas comes from Provence in the southeast of France, the Sauvion coms from the Loire Valley just south and west of the town of Angers. This wine is made from the grapes Gamay (yes, the same one in Beaujolais) and Grolleau. The color of this wine is a shade or two darker than the Routas due in part to different grapes as well as the vintage. 2003 was extremely hot and as such grapes were 'more ripe' than what one would normally expect. All in all the wine behaves very much like a rosé should though this wine has bit more to it. Across the board, the color, aromatics, and palate are 'amped up'. Again, probably more vintage specific than anything else, it is a curious alternative to the more tried and true rosés. The wine almost comes across with a hint of tannin, obviously something you would expect in a red wine more so than a rosé. To draw a comparison, while both are excellent food wines, the Routas is more like a reception rosé, the Sauvion will do better with the presence of some food. Expect to pay $11-$12 per bottle.
Domaine Vieux Chêne 'Cuvée Friande'
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse 2003
This wine has us heading back to the southeast of France, specifically in the southern Rhône valley. The Vaucluse is putting out some amazing wines made from the usual suspects of the Rhône (Grenache, Syrah, etc..) but without the sticker price of more well-known appellations like the Côtes-du-Rhône, Gigondas, Lirac and so on. Vieux Chêne farms all of their vineyards organically, always a plus. The first thing that one notices about this wine is the color. It is a very dark, bordering on what you would think a red wine should look like while still remaining translucent. As with the Sauvion, this is more because of vintage and grape. Made from 100% Grenache, it behaves more like a red wine than a rosé. Aromatics are tight and concetrated, exhibiting similar traits as the other two, just more wound up. Not exactly my cup of tea when looking for a rosé, but for $10-$11, what the hell? I have had far worse wines for more money.
This is without a doubt my single favorite time of year. Everything is in full bloom, the damned mosquitos are still at a minimum and the latest crop of Rosé begins to flow. That's right, it's Rosé time. And if you are one of those people that can't get your head past 'that pink stuff' you're a moron. And that's fine, it means more for me.
Over the last week, I have been enjoying a few different labels and figured that I would share my findings. Just for the record, let me dispell a few myths and lay down some basic truths:
1. 'All rosé is sweet'. This is simply ridiculous. Unless of course the last time you had anything 'blush' was in 1987. Rosé (and that is what it should be called) can and does run the gamut from bone dry to rather sweet. It is this jack-hole's opinion that the drier the better.
2. 'White Zinfandel is a grape'. Again, wrong. This was simply a moniker created to help in selling the crap that it is. And truth be known, it worked like a bastard. White Zinfandel (and all rosé for that matter) is the result of an abbreviated maceration of the skins and juice. Think of it this way, grapes are like people, all the color is in the skins. As such, the less time the juice and skins are in contact, the less transfer of color from one to the other. Rememeber, two of the three grapes used in the production of Champagne are 'black'. Yet the majority of Champagne consumed is 'white'. Magic?
3. 'Pink wine is for girls'. There are variations on this theme like 'Real men don't drink pink' or the one I heard just yesterday in my shop 'My momma told me never drink anything pink'. Well, your mom is an idiot and you are too for listening to her. Of course, the guy who said this won't buy French wine. He'll drink, just so long as someone else pays for it. Somehow, this makes sense to him. Here's my take: Who cares if pink wine is for girls? I like girls, albeit one in particular. And I like wine. Put the two together and how bad could it be?
Enough of that, let us on to the wines:
Every time I think about reviewing a wine from this house, I feel like I will come across as the poster boy for Routas. The truth is they make very good wines. They also price their wines accordingly. Considering that most people don't know where the Var is (it's in Provence), Routas does not enjoy the cachet that other regions do, so prices are quite reasonable. 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 30% Cinsault. Honestly, if I was afforded only one Rosé for the rest of my days, this would be it. First off, is the color. A beautiful hue of pink with a touch of orange. Absolutely translucent, it looks like spring. The aromatics come across with faint hints of rose petal and what I can best describe as unsweeted strawberries. The palate is very clean with flavors of light strawberry and cherry. The finish is bone dry (as any proper rosé should be) and the aftertaste, while existent is not cloying or cumbersome. Arguably the best wine for sitting on the porch watching the grass grow. I sell it for $13.00, but prices can/will vary depending on locale.
Whereas, the Routas comes from Provence in the southeast of France, the Sauvion coms from the Loire Valley just south and west of the town of Angers. This wine is made from the grapes Gamay (yes, the same one in Beaujolais) and Grolleau. The color of this wine is a shade or two darker than the Routas due in part to different grapes as well as the vintage. 2003 was extremely hot and as such grapes were 'more ripe' than what one would normally expect. All in all the wine behaves very much like a rosé should though this wine has bit more to it. Across the board, the color, aromatics, and palate are 'amped up'. Again, probably more vintage specific than anything else, it is a curious alternative to the more tried and true rosés. The wine almost comes across with a hint of tannin, obviously something you would expect in a red wine more so than a rosé. To draw a comparison, while both are excellent food wines, the Routas is more like a reception rosé, the Sauvion will do better with the presence of some food. Expect to pay $11-$12 per bottle.
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse 2003
This wine has us heading back to the southeast of France, specifically in the southern Rhône valley. The Vaucluse is putting out some amazing wines made from the usual suspects of the Rhône (Grenache, Syrah, etc..) but without the sticker price of more well-known appellations like the Côtes-du-Rhône, Gigondas, Lirac and so on. Vieux Chêne farms all of their vineyards organically, always a plus. The first thing that one notices about this wine is the color. It is a very dark, bordering on what you would think a red wine should look like while still remaining translucent. As with the Sauvion, this is more because of vintage and grape. Made from 100% Grenache, it behaves more like a red wine than a rosé. Aromatics are tight and concetrated, exhibiting similar traits as the other two, just more wound up. Not exactly my cup of tea when looking for a rosé, but for $10-$11, what the hell? I have had far worse wines for more money.
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