Wine Focus for June: Rosé!

[Ernie in Berkeley]

Yes, Skewis is a California producer based near Healdsburg, and the rose is a blend of their single-vineyard wines from up and down the North Coast. Their total production is about 950 cases. I believe they sell all of their rose to their wine club members (no waiting list! 20% case discount for everyone on 6+bottles! Plug-plug), and it was $20/bottle.

[Bob Henrick]

Yes, Skewis is a California producer based near Healdsburg, and the rose is a blend of their single-vineyard wines from up and down the North Coast. Their total production is about 950 cases. I believe they sell all of their rose to their wine club members (no waiting list! 20% case discount for everyone on 6+bottles! Plug-plug), and it was $20/bottle.

Thanks for the quick reply Ernie. That sounds a lot like an OR rosé from a winery named J K Carriere. Similarly priced, but more of it is made. Their website says 460 cases. Thankfully some of it does get out of Oregon.

[David M. Bueker]

2009 Domaine des Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) Beaujolais Rosé d'folie
Despite the fact that this comes in a frosted bottle (yikes!) and has a label that smacks of Ralph Steadman doing Bonny Doon, the wine is rather stunning stuff for its type. Lovely ripe strawberry & cranberry aromas, nearly a creaminess on the palate & fairly decent length. It's fresh, lively and much too quaffable (especially after mowing the lawn). Yum+

[Matilda L]

I think the rosés I have enjoyed most have been from pinot noir grown in a cool climate. Drier and crisper than many.

[Tim York]

I think the rosés I have enjoyed most have been from pinot noir grown in a cool climate. Drier and crisper than many.

Matilda, my best ever rosé conformed to those specifications; a Sancerre rosé 1996 from Cotat (François?) drunk at between 8 and 10 years of age. It had a distinction, minerality and elegance reminiscent of fine Champagne.

[Matilda L]

drunk at between 8 and 10 years of age

Now, here I have to confess: I have never in my life drunk an aged rosé. Aged rosé champagne/sparkling, but not rosé table wine. Perhaps I need to stock up some of the better stuff and stash it away for some time, see what it's like as it gets older?

[Robin Garr]

2009 Domaine des Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) Beaujolais Rosé d'folie
Despite the fact that this comes in a frosted bottle (yikes!) and has a label that smacks of Ralph Steadman doing Bonny Doon

I think the simple phrase "Domaine des Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) " easily trumps all that.

[Dale Williams]

Now, here I have to confess: I have never in my life drunk an aged rosé. Aged rosé champagne/sparkling, but not rosé table wine. Perhaps I need to stock up some of the better stuff and stash it away for some time, see what it's like as it gets older?

Personally, I think for 99% of roses it's imperative to drink year of release. The main exceptions I can think of have already been listed:

Sancerre rose from top makers, specifically the Cotat cousins. I also just had a 2009 G. Boulay Sancerre pink I thought could age

The idiosyncatic Tondonia rosado from Lopez de Heredia (usually released at about 10 years, and can hold for a while)

Top Bandol roses from Tempier, Ott, etc

Never had the Feudi dSG rose.

David, agree on the 09 Brun, fun wine, yum+ is about right

[Tim York]

Costières de Nîmes Réserve 2009 - Château de Nages, Grassier - Alc. 13.5% - made from Grenache and Syrah. This was a nice juicy pink with a fuschia colour and enough body and simple structure for pairing a barbecue. Fruit had a sweetly perfumed tinge which I felt needed something crisper than the smooth acidity, which was present, for good balance (Germaine actually complained about the sweetness). Nevertheless I think that we will have no difficulty in finishing the remaining three bottles at a slightly colder temperature than this one in order to boost freshness; 15/20.

[Jenise]

Last night, we enjoyed a delightful new arrival:

Ameztoi Getarioko Txakolina Rubentis Rosado 2009

It is frizzante (or whatever the Basque term would be), light, totally refreshing. Strawberry and white peach flavors. This would be a killer substitute for Prosecco in a Bellini cocktail.

Your description would cover the NV Casa Garcia (pink) Vinho Verde we had a few weeks ago.

[Jenise]

drunk at between 8 and 10 years of age

Now, here I have to confess: I have never in my life drunk an aged rosé. Aged rosé champagne/sparkling, but not rosé table wine. Perhaps I need to stock up some of the better stuff and stash it away for some time, see what it's like as it gets older?

Matilda, one of my favorite roses on the planet comes from your part of the world and a winery whose other offerings I don't care for: Charles Melton's Rose of Virginia. And it's not only delicious right out of the box, several vintages I've owned have aged in the near term very well. Now I didn't let them go too long, but one misplaced bottle had the stuffing to get more interesting almost five years out.

[James Dietz]

drunk at between 8 and 10 years of age

Now, here I have to confess: I have never in my life drunk an aged rosé. Aged rosé champagne/sparkling, but not rosé table wine. Perhaps I need to stock up some of the better stuff and stash it away for some time, see what it's like as it gets older?

Matilda, one of my favorite roses on the planet comes from your part of the world and a winery whose other offerings I don't care for: Charles Melton's Rose of Virginia. And it's not only delicious right out of the box, several vintages I've owned have aged in the near term very well. Now I didn't let them go too long, but one misplaced bottle had the stuffing to get more interesting almost five years out.

I completely agree with you, Jenise. The Melton does age nicely. I cannot find it locally anymore, but if I could, I would buy it by the case.. some for now, some for a few years down the line.

[JC (NC)]

2009 Pierre-Marie Chermette (Vissoux) "Les Griottes" Beaujolais Rose'
13% alcohol. In a frosted glass bottle (like the one David Bueker had from J.P. Brun). Synthetic cork.
Imported by Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA. Purchased at Seaborad Wine Warehouse, Raleigh (also carried by The Wine Merchant, Raleigh.)
Sustainable viticulture. Uses natural yeasts and little or no filtration.
Light salmon shade. It actually tastes to me as if it had a higher than 13% alcohol content. Tart cranberries with a touch of white pepper or pink peppercorn. Overall, I prefer the Domaine de la Janasse Rose' over this one.

I have opened a Schug Carneros Pinot Noir Rose' and will report on that and a Spanish rose' next week.

[Dick Bueker]

Here is another new one. Zacherle Wines Rose Napa Valley 2008. Blend of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Nice deeper pink color. Strawberry on the nose. Fresh acidity with stone fruit strawberry and watermelon. Some plumb too. I'm going to be drinking this all summer.

[David M. Bueker]

Well then I expect a chance to try it.

I'm surprised by the use of Cabernet Sauvignon - I would expect a bit of potential greenness or even heaviness from it.

[Dick Bueker]

Not that I taste. Hope that it lasts until August!!

[David M. Bueker]

Not that I taste. Hope that it lasts until August!!

There's always more wine.

[Lou Kessler]

I personally am a fan of Steve's Bone Jolly and every couple of years or so I treat mysef to a case of Domaine Tempier. A friend asked if I knew anything about the following two rose wines?
09 Commanderie de Peyrassol cotes de provence
08 Chat Pradeaux Bandol I believe these both are from Rosenthal.
If anyone has any info it would be aprreciated. I may be in ITB but can't try everything.

[David M. Bueker]

I have a bottle of the Peyrassol that will be opened later in the week. I will report back.

Here's last night's wine:

2008 Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rosé
This is an excellent Rose, though in a different mold from most others of its type. The fruit is darker, there is more inner-mouth perfume, and it's earthier, rather than being just lightly perfumed. Served along side a spiced lamb with scallions, this was a fine match.

[Ernie in Berkeley]

Last night's Chateau St. Martin de la Garrigue "Tradition" continues in the "earthier" trend. Not dark in color, but deeper in flavor and aroma, a little surprising as the label says it's a grenache/cinsault blend. Nice strawberry at the higher end, maybe rhubarb as well. Around $12 at Kermit.

[Jennifer T]

I'm in the middle of getting Ch. De Saint Martin into PA! That's so weird that you put them here...if you have a chance, try their Cru Classe Rouge Grande Reserve 2009, it is SUPERB! Their Roses are so complex and comforting to the tongue. They use Tibouren in their Eternelle Favorite in the swanky cylindrical bottle...amazing! Nothing like I've ever tasted before and Tibouren is a hard grape to deal with.

[Bob Henrick]

I'm in the middle of getting Ch. De Saint Martin into PA! That's so weird that you put them here...if you have a chance, try their Cru Classe Rouge Grande Reserve 2009, it is SUPERB! Their Roses are so complex and comforting to the tongue. They use Tibouren in their Eternelle Favorite in the swanky cylindrical bottle...amazing! Nothing like I've ever tasted before and Tibouren is a hard grape to deal with.

Hi Jennifer.

I take it from the above that you are In The Business and represent the wine in question? All that being so, I wanted to give you a big WLDG welcome to the forum. You do need to make it clear when you post on a wine you represent. Thanks.

[Jenise]

I completely agree with you, Jenise. The Melton does age nicely. I cannot find it locally anymore, but if I could, I would buy it by the case.. some for now, some for a few years down the line.

Your post caused me to go looking. I found evidence that John Gorman got the 2008 in last year, but otherwise it has virtually vanished from the U.S. marketplace. What happened?????

[Jenise]

Spanish rose contest:

We had two couples over for dinner last Sunday and our aperitif was these three Spanish wines.

2008 Albero Rose from 100% Bobal. Pale as roses go and the hue of a slightly tarnished penny. Wine-y nose but not distinct or memorable and on the palate, it shows itself to be a real geek treat with squeaky clean dryness, cranberry, green herbs and a bit of lemony acids. More interesting to me than my guests and would have been even more interesting with food. Purchased at Trader Joe's.

2009 Marques de Caceras, Rioja: pinker than the Albero but not really darker. Reminded me instantly of the first rose I ever had which was from a winery up in the Santa Barbara region (Ballard Canyon). I had not yet caught the wine bug so paid no attention to what grapes it was made of, but it was sold at the store closest to the campground we were staying at, and I went back every day for another bottle. It had a woodiness that is not vanilla or the traditional oak flavors so I'm not certain where that flavor comes from, nor have I encountered it in a pink Rioja before, but I love it. On the nose some roses and buttery things: goes down way to easy. 5 out of 6 of us liked this best.

2008 Conde de Valdemar, Rioja: dark reddish pink grenadine juice color. On the nose, a slightly oxidative note crept into my glass and I suspect it of being heat damaged I therefore dismissed it and returned to the other wines, hence this isn't much of a note. To be fair it did get one first place vote, but it's also worth noting that I was the only one there likely to notice it.