April 2, 2012
Fig & Olive, West Hollywood, CA

I recently attended a media and trade tasting of wines from the Côtes de Provence sponsored by the Counseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Provence (Provence Wine Council). Listed below is information about this organization:

“The Conseil lnterprofessionnel des Vins de Provence (CIVP), known in the United States as the Provence Wine Council, is an official organization of wine producers and trading companies working together to advance the wines of the Provence region of France. Its member wineries produce 96% of the region’s Appellation d’ Origine Contrôlée (AGC) wines.

 The ClVP/Provence Wine Council promotes the Provence brand and AGC wines through efforts in four areas:

• Market research and analysis
• Scientific research, including sponsorship of the Center for Rosé Research
• Quality control
• Marketing, communications, and public relations

 Market Facts:

• Approximately 10% of the world’s wine production is rosé, and France is the number one producer.
• Provence produces 38% of French AOC rosés.
• In France, vin rosé outsells white wine.
• In the U.S., rosé is one of the fastest-growing wine categories in retail.
• The U.S. market has access to more Provence rosé labels now than ever before”

There were 15 wineries represented at this tasting. The format of this tasting was to go to individual stations where wines from each producer were being poured.  I concentrated on the 2011 rosés and went from station to station to taste the wines. This sort of tasting necessitates only a brief tasting of the wine hence abbreviated notes. Below are the highlights of my tastings (suggested retail prices are listed where available):

2011 Chateau La Mascaronne Rosé Quat’Saisons Côtes de Provence.
Blend of Syrah, Cinsault, and Grenache. Pale salmon pink in color. Nice floral perfume with a touch of citrus. Very nice fruit with floral citrus notes. Crisp finish – Highly Recommended.   $15   Importers: Vinum Wine Importing Seattle, WA. – Chez Suze Imports Boulder, CO. – International Cellars Vienna, VA.

2011 Chateau Léoube Rosé de Léoube Côtes de Provence.
Blend of Syrah, Cinsualt, Grenache, and Mouvèdre. Very pale salmon pink color. Faint floral perfume. Light with nice fruit and a crisp finish – Recommended Plus.    Importers: Southern Wines & Spirits – Transatlantic Division Miami, FL. – Classic Wines Stamford, CT.

2011 Chateau Roubine Rosé Cuvée Classique Cru Classé Côtes de Provence.
Blend of 7 grape varities – Cinsault, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, Tobouren, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Pale salmon pink color. Faint orange hue. Floral berry perfume. Touch of spice. Great fruit. Rounded. Supple. Has richness and depth. Crisp finish – Outstanding.   $19.99  Imported by European Wine Imports Cleveland, OH. (To read my article on Chateau Roubine click here)

2011 Chateau Thuerry Rosé Cuvée Le Chateau Côtes de Provence.
Blend of Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault. Pale salmon pink color. Lovely floral perfume. Very nice fruit. Floral citrus notes. Elegant. Nice crisp finish – Highly Recommended.  Imported by Angels’ Share Wines Brooklyn, NY.

2011 Chateau Thuerry Rosé Cuvée es Abeillons Côtes de Provence.
Made with 60% Grenache and 40% Cinsault. Pale salmon pink color. Gorgeous perfume. Floral, berry and citrus. Flavorful. Rounded. Elegant. Lovely floral tinged fruit. Balanced. Really tasty – Outstanding.   Imported by Angels’ Share Wines Brooklyn, NY.

2011 Domaine de la Fouquette Rosé d’Aurore Côtes de Provence.
Made with 65% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, and 5% Rolle. Pale salmon pink color. Deep perfume. Floral and citrus notes. Lovely fruit. Hints of citrus. Balanced and supple. Vice crisp finish – Outstanding.    Imported by Wine Agencies New York, NY.

2011 Domaine de Saint Ser Cuvée Saint Ser Prestige Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire.
Blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle. Pale salmon pink color. Nice perfume. Citrus tinge. Lovely fruit. Hint of citrus. Crisp finish – Highly Recommended.   Imported by  Milton Road Trading Company Napa, CA and Polander Selections Mount Kisco, NY.

2011 Domaine de Saint Ser Cuvée de l’Ermite Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire.
Made from a selection of old vines. Very pale salmon pink color. Lovely floral perfume. Berry fruit and citrus nuances. Lovely berry tinged fruit. Floral and citrus notes. Balanced. Flavorful – Outstanding.    Imported by  Milton Road Trading Company Napa, CA and Polander Selections Mount Kisco, NY.

2011 Domaine du Grand Cros/Jules Wines Cuvée Esprit de Provence Côtes de Provence.
Blend of  Grenache, Cinsault, and Carignan. Pale salmon pink color golden hue. Faint floral perfume. Lovely fruit. Touch of citrus. Crisp finish – Highly Recommended.   Imported by The Barter House New York, NY.

2011 Domaine du Grand Cros/Jules Wines Cuvée Jules Côtes de Provence.
Blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Carignan. Pale salmon pink color. Golden hue. Nice perfume. Floral and citrus hints. Very nice fruit. Supple and rounded. Crisp finish – Highly Recommended Plus.   Imported by The Barter House New York, NY.

2011 Domaine Saint André de Figuière Cuvée Signature Magali Côtes de Provence.
Blend of Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache, and Cabernet. Pale salmon pink color. Floral perfume. Nice fruit. Floral tinge. Crisp finish – Highly Recommended.   Imported by Paul M. Young Fine Wines Los Angeles, CA.

2011 Domaine Saint André de Figuiere Cuvée Vieilles Vignes Côtes de Provence.
Blend of Mouvèdre, Cinsault, and Grenache. Light salmon pink color. Floral tinged perfume. Lovely fruit. Tinge of citrus. Nice crispness – Highly Recommended Plus.    Imported by The Barter House New York, NY.

2011 Domaine Sainte Lucie & Domaine des Diables Cuvée MIP* Made in Provence Côtes de Provence.
The younger generation created a new domaine. Hence the 2 names. This is the wine made by the new generation. It’s pretty simple – MIP or Made in Provence. Made from 60% Cinsault, 20% Grenache, and 20% Syrah. Pale salmon pink color. Golden hue. Lovely perfume. Floral nuance. Balanced. Supple. Nice crisp finish – Highly Recommended Plus.    $17  Imported by Savio Soares Selection Brooklyn, NY.

2011 Les Maitres Vignerons de la Pesqu’ile de Saint-Tropez Cuvée Saint Roch Les Vignes Côtes de Provence.
Made from 50% Grenache and 50% Cinsault. Pale salmon pink color. Lovely perfume. Floral. Citrus. Lovely fruit. Hints of berry. Touch of spice. Citrus tinge. Balanced. Delicious – Outstanding.   $13.50  Imported by Jeff Welburn Selections Van Nuys, CA.  

2011 Les Maitres Vignerons de la Pesqu’ile de Saint-Tropez Cuvée Chateau de Pampelonne Côtes de Provence.
Made from 40% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, and 20% Syrah. Pale salmon pink color. Gorgeous perfume. Floral. Citrus. Lovely fruit. Strawberry. Citrus. Flavorful. Balanced. Lovely – Outstanding.   $19.00  Imported by Jeff Welburn Selections Van Nuys, CA. 

This is a glimpse into the 2011 Côtes de Provence rosés. For now, the 2011s look to be a bit crisper and a bit more delicate than the 2010s. The best wines are wonderfully fruity, finesseful, and beautifully balanced with great early appeal. This conclusion is based on my tasting here and tastings I have done with individual 2011 Côtes de Provence rosés. Some of the wines in the latter tastings are wines from producers who were at this event. As is my normal tasting practice, these latter wines were tasted over a period of several days with different kinds of foods. Look for more extensive and detailed notes and background on 2011 rosés from these tastings in a series of rosé articles that will be coming soon.