Happy 4th of July. It’s time for rosés!

There are an increasing number of importers of rosé in the US. Most of the imported roses come from France and many importers carry only a few wines. But, there are several importers with a wide selection of rosés available. These are 3 of the best:

• Hand Picked Selections Warrenton, VA. Hand Picked Selections has some of the best French Rosés at very good prices with retail prices ranging from around $12 to $24. The wines from Hand Picked selections typically are some of the first to arrive (To see my notes on the 2012s click here).
• Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA. Kermit Lynch has an impressive portfolio of mostly French Rosés with some of the very best from Bandol and other less well known areas of France where the rosés are extraordinarily good (think Corsica, for instance).
• Robert Kacher Selections New York, NY. Robert Kacher imports some of the best value rosés in the country. They are from different, and many relatively unknown, areas of France and most retail in a range of $12-$16. These wines are unbeatable values!

To buy wines from these importers contact your local wine merchant. Also, you can contact the importers directly to find out where to buy the wines. Here are the links:

• Hand Picked Selections (click here)
• Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant (click here) 
• Robert Kacher Selections (click here) 

Below are notes on a selection of 2012 Rosés from California, France, Italy, and Spain. Included are a large number of different types of rosés priced in a range from $9.95 to $39.00. There is something here for every palate and pocketbook. So get in the rosé game! Summer is here. It’s the perfect time to enjoy rosé with all types of warm weather foods. There are many rosés  to choose from in this article and more in the earlier article on 2012 rosés (To read that article click here).  So choose a few rosés from the Underground selections and try others recommended by your wine merchant. There are lots to choose from and over time you will find many favorites that you will want to go back to every year!

CALIFORNIA
Often California rosés are made as way to bleed off juice to make a more intense red wine. A few are made to be only rosé. Here are notes on several really nice ones.

 

2012 Bedrock Wine Company Rosé  “Ode To Lulu” California.
Very pale salmon pink in color this wine is made from grapes grown on a selection of old mostly Mouvèdre vines planted from 1988 to 1922. The grapes were picked at low sugar levels and vinified with native yeast. This is a gorgeous example of the potential for California rosé. The color is very pale salmon pink and the perfume is faintly floral with subtle hints of strawberry and a very faint underlying spiciness. Delicate and very pure, this is a rosé that shows restraint yet has wonderful flavors with hints of melon, berry fruit and floral spice tinges. It is a wonderful accompaniment to many light summer dishes – Outstanding.      $19.98

2012 Arnolt-Roberts Rosé Clear Lake.
Made with 80% Touriga Nacional and 20% Tinta Caö grapes from the Luchsigner Vineyard in Clear Lake, CA, this is another unique California rosé made in a delicate, finesseful style. Pale amber orange in color with a golden edge, the wine has an intriguing floral herbal perfume with a very faint smokiness. The fruit is delicate and bright with tinges of peach and citrus and faint floral herbal notes backed by a nice underlying crispness – Highly Recommended.      $22.98

2012 Bonny Doon Vineyard Rosé “Vin Gris De Cigare”.
As disclosed on the back label, this rosé is made with a very French blend of grapes – 62% Grenache, 17% Mouvédre, 9% Roussane, 6% Grenache Blanc, and 6% Cinsault. Bonny Doon is also one of the first wineries to use ingredient labeling and this is also disclosed on the back label: grapes, tartaric acid, sulfur dioxide, indigenous yeast, yeast nutrients, bentonite, and skim milk. This is to be commended as all wineries should follow this practice (To read the article on why ingredient labeling is so important to consumers click here). The wine has 12.5% alcohol and a pale pink color with a subtle perfume showing floral berry nuances. It has lovely balance and delicate fruit showing hints of berries with a faint underlying citrus tinge. All in all, a very nice rosé and very easy to drink – Highly Recommended.      $15.00

2012 Tablas Creek Vineyard Rosé Dianthus.
Dianthus is the new name for the Tablas Creek Mouvèdre-based estate rosé. Dianthus is the name of a family of some 300 flowers also known as carnation, pinks, and sweet william. This 2012 is 60% Mouvèdre with 25% Grenache and 15% Counoise and has 14.5% alcohol. It is light reddish pink in color with a golden hue and a golden edge and has a lovely floral perfume with hints of watermelon and raspberry with a very faint spice tinge. Full and rounded with lots of floral tinged fruit, it is flavorful and quite intense – Highly Recommended.         $27     

2012 Tablas Creek Vineyard Rosé Patelin de Tablas.
This wine incorporates fruit from five top Rhône vineyards in Paso Robles. It is made from 75% Grenache, 20% Mouvèdre, and 5% Counoise and has 14% alcohol.  Pale golden amber orange color with a golden edge, the wine has a lovely perfume with hints of apricot and a tinge of almond with an underlying floral nuance. It is supple, rounded, and quite lush, with lovely red berry fruit tinged with apricot and a nice underlying crispness – Highly Recommended.           $20   

FRANCE
France is the home of the greatest rosés in the world. Made in many different styles and very food friendly these are simply suberb wines and great values. 

Bandol
One of the most complex of all rosés and one that can repay aging for several years, Bandol rosés are amongst the best and the most expensive rosés. They marry very well with heartier foods such as meats and vegetables from the grill as well as grilled and smoked fish (especially cold smoked salmon) and many other flavorful savory summer dishes. The 2012 Bandol rosés seem especially fine this year. Don’t miss them!

 

2012 Domaine du Gros ‘Noré  Bandol Rosé.
This rosé is made from 40% Mourvèdre, 40% Cinsault, and 20% Grenache grapes grown on 30 year old vines. With a pale orange pink color showing a golden hue and golden edge, the wine has a lovely floral perfume with a hint of almond and a kiss of peach and spice. It is finesseful and elegant with lovely fruit showing melon and peach accented by a tinge of spice and a faint floral nuance. Balanced with a nice underlying crispness this is a really gorgeous rosé – Outstanding.     $30.00    Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA  

2012 Chateau de Pibarnon Bandol Rosé.
Pale salmon pink in color with a faint orange hue, this is a very nice rosé with a nice floral, herbal perfume showing a faint smokiness. It is supple and rounded with lovely floral tinged fruit and a faint citrus nuance backed by a nice underlying crispness – Highly Recommended.        $25.00     Imported by Michael Skurknik Wines Syosset. NY.  

2012 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé.
Consistently one very best rosés from anywhere in the world, this 2012 Domaine Tempier is a continuation of the trend. It is gorgeous now and will age beautifully for many years. I had the 2012 with the 2009 and both were gorgeous with 2009 rounding out nicely and showing plenty of life ahead. The 2012 is pale orange in color with a golden hue and a golden edge. It has a gorgeous perfume with very faint hints of herbs and citrus also showing a tinge of orange zest and apricot. Supple and rounded with lots of flavor and a great underlying crispness, the wine has gorgeous fruit with hints of peach and apricot and faint herbal, floral, spice nuances. This is, in a word, a simply delicious rosé  and in the case of Domaine Tempier rosé that is just par for the course – Outstanding Plus.      $39.00    Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berleley, CA  

 

2012 Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rosé.
Made from 50% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, and 25% Cinsault grapes grown on 10 year old vines, this is a lovely finesseful rosé. It is pale salmon pink in color with a faint golden hue and a golden edge. There is a lovely floral perfume with a tinge of mango, herbs, spice and citrus and the wine has a subtle fruitiness with hints of melon, peach, citrus, and a faint kiss of spice. Very engaging with a nice crispness this rosé has a lot of early appeal – Outstanding.    $30.00   Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA  

2012 Domaine Tour Du Bon Bando1 Rosé.
Made from grapes grown on 38 year old vines and consisting of 35% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 25% Mourvèdre, and 10% Clairette, this is a stunning rosé that is loaded with fruit. It is pale salmon pink in color with a golden hue and a golden edge and has a gorgeous floral perfume accented by tinges of apricot and mango. Supple and rounded with floral tinged apricot and mango fruit showing a tinge of citrus, the wine is balanced with great finesse and style and has a lovely underlying crispness – Outstanding Plus.      $29.00    Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA  

Burgundy
Burgundy is the home to the greatest red and white wines in the world. But you rarely see rosés. But, here are two terrific examples. 

2012 Regis Bouvier Marsannay Rosé.
Rosés from Burgundy are quite rare. The grapes are just too expensive to make into rosé. Marsannay is the newest appellation in Burgundy and at the northern end. The red wines tend to be quite high in acidity and are not as expensive as most other Burgundies. These factors seem to make the Marsannay ideally suited to make rosé. This is a lovely example. Light reddish pink in color with a golden hue and a golden edge this rosé exudes charm and finesse. The perfume is lovely with hints of cherry and a distinct floral quality accented by a tinge of minerality. It is elegant and delicate, yet flavorful, and very pure with cherry floral nuances. Bright and fresh with great balance and early appeal this is really gorgeous – Outstanding.     $22.00    Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA  

       

2012 Domaine Bart Rosé Marsannay.
This is another rare rosé from Burgundy that is really gorgeous. With a pale orange pink color and a golden hue with a golden edge, the wine has a lovely floral perfume with hints of blackberry and cherry. The fruit is very pure and shows hints of blackberry with floral citrus nuances and a faint kiss of spice. With great balance and a lot of finesse, this is a delicious rosé – Outstanding.       $18.99     Shipped by Jeanne-Marie De Champs Beaune, FR Imported by Wine House LTD San Francisco, CA

 

Cassis
This is a small appellation located on the coast between Marseilles and Bandol. Perched on a bluff overlooking the sea, it is uniquely situated. And, it is unique in the Provencal wine region as white wine makes up 75% of its production. The rosé and white wines produced here include some of the most exquisite and finesseful of all the wines of Provence.

 

2012 Clos Ste. Magdeleine Cassis Rosé.
With only 12.5% alcohol this is a stunningly finesseful rosé. It is made from 40% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, 20% Mourvèdre grown on vines averaging 15-40 years of age. Pale salmon pink in color with a golden hue and a golden edge, the wine has a gorgeous floral perfume with citrus and melon nuances and a very faint hint of exotic spice. With great finesse and style, this is a rosé that has immense charm. Floral tinged citrus nuances are accented by faint hints of melon and an elusive hint of spice and the balance is impeccable. This is a rosé for the moment with immense early appeal – Outstanding Plus.       $34.00   Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA  

   

Corsica
Here is what I said about Corsica in my article on 2011 Rosés last year:

Corsica is a 3350 square mile island that is part of France even though it is actually closer to Italy. Vineyards were first established here in the 6th century BC and then went through a massive expansion that began about 50 years ago. This expansion largely favored quantity over quality. But, in the last 30 years that has all changed. Here is a quote from Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant who is now importing wines from several Corsican producers …

“It’s an upheaval! In thirty years Corsican vineyards have completely changed face. In the 1970’s, vines occupied over 30000 hectares, for the most part planted on the eastern plains with excessive yields. In 2011, only 7000 hectares remain in production on the island. Far from being a failure, this contraction heralds a tremendous renewal.

Let’s say it clear: Corsica is THE exciting wine region in France. Twenty days of inquiry and a complete tour of the island have permitted us to identify the factors of its dynamism. Foremost, the recognition and protection of a rich heritage of indigenous varietals after thirty years of research. Secondly, spectacular work on modernization of cellars and the emergence of a generation of vigerons liberated from the errors of the past and assuming their identity….”

 

2012 Domaine D’ E Croce Yves Leccia Rosé Patrimonio.
Yves Leccia makes wines of great elegance and style. This rosé is made from Niellicciu grapes grown on 20 year old vines and is just exquisite. Pale golden orange color with a golden edge, this rosé has a stunning perfume with faint hints of strawberry and watermelon accented by a floral nuance. It is very elegant and very pure with gorgeous fruit showing subtle flavors of strawberry and raspberry. Supple and rounded with a silky txture, the wine is beautifully balanced by a nice underlying crispness and is absolutely delicious – Outstanding Plus.        $27.00   Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA  

 

The Almaric family has owned the Domaine de Marquiliani since the 1950s some 20 years after the 200 year old estate was destroyed by fire. It is located in the village of Aghione not far from the old Roman capital of Corsica. Today Anne Almaric works with her father and makes this rosé which is harvested from 5 acres of 50 year old vines consisting of 92% Sciaccarellu and 8% Syrah.

2012 Domaine Marquiliani Rosé de Sciaccarellu.
Very pale salmon pink in color this rosé has a gorgeous perfume with subtle floral nuances and faint hints of citrus, peach, and spice with a faint underlying minerality. With lots of finesse and style this is a wine with great charm. It is supple, yet bright and has delicate flavors of peach and citrus with a floral undertone and a lovely crispness – Outstanding.       $28.00   Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA  

 

Côtes De Gascogne
This is an area in Southwest France known for the production of Armagnac.  But, what is lesser known are the still wines many of which are delicious and great values. More on some of the white wines later, but for now here is a smashing rosé that is flat out delicious and a great value.

 

2012 Domaine Du Tariquet Rosé De Pressée Côtes De Gascogne.
The Grassa family has owned this domaine since 1912 making very high quality Armagnac. In the 1980s, a new generation broke with tradition and started making still wines as well. The wines are very fresh, very clean, and flavorful.
This rosé is a great example. It is made from 30% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 25% Syrah, and 15% Tannat. With only 12% alcohol, this is stunningly bright, fresh and delicious rosé and a must buy! Light red in color with a pink hue, the wine has an intense floral perfume with cherry and watermelon fruit. It is zesty, very flavorful, and beautifully balanced with a nice crispness. Absolutely brimming with cherry and watermelon fruit, this is a rosé that is delicious to drink with almost any type of food. Served well chilled, it is absolutely irresistible – Outstanding.   $12    Best Buy   Imported by Robert Kacher Selections New York, NY

 

Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence is the second largest appellation in the Provence wine region in the far south-eastern corner of France. In order of importance, the wines made here are rosé, red, and white.

2012 Jean-Luc Colombo Rosé Cap Bleue Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence.
Made with 67% Syrah and 33% Mouvèdre this is a lovely finesseful rosé with 12.5% alcohol. It is pale salmon pink in color with a golden hue and a golden edge and the floral perfume is gorgeous with hints if cherries and raspberries. With great elegance, this rosé has beautifully integrated flavors with cherry, raspberry and citrus accented by a faint tinge of spice. It is soft and rounded with a nice underlying crispness and is really delicious as well as being a great buy – Highly Recommended Plus.      $9.99   Best Buy     Imported by Palm Bay International  Boca Raton, FL

 

Côtes de Provence
Wine has been made in the Côtes de Provence for over 2600 years. Today rosé is the predominant wine in the area and accounts for some of the very best rosé wines in the world.

 

2012 Le Grand Cros “L’ Espirit De Provence” Rosé Côtes De Provence.
Owned by the Faulkner family since 1989, this is a lovely rosé made from Grenache, Cinsult, and Syrah. It is pale salmon pink in color with a golden hue and a golden edge and has a lovely floral spice perfume with hints of peach and apricot. The wine is supple and elegant with great finesse and has floral flavors with hints of peach, melon, and apricot and a faint underlying spiciness. Balanced and flavorful with a faint hint of citrus on the finish this rosé has a lot of charm – Outstanding.       $18.00

  

2012 Château Sainte Roseline “Cuvée Lamp De Méduse” Rosé Cru Classe Côtes De Provence.
This is another gorgeous rosé from one on the greatest rosé producers in Provence (To read the article Three Grand Cru Classé Ladies of the Côtes de Provence click here).  It is presented in a bottle created in 1950 by Baroness Rasque Laval who gave it its name in honor of the Knights of Medusa, which had a habit of “Lamper wine,” literally “drink in one gulp a large amount of wine” before each induction. The wine is made from a blend of mostly Cinsault and Grenache with Mouvèdre, Syrah, and Tibouren. Pale salmon pink in color with a golden hue and a golden edge, it has a gorgeous floral perfume with hints of spice, quince, peach, and strawberry and is supple and silky with great elegance, flavor, and finesse. Balanced with complex fruit flavors showing peach, citrus, quince, and melon accented by a faint floral nuance, this is a simply marvelous rosé – Outstanding Plus.         $30.00    Imported by Vidalco International  New York, NY 

2012 Saint Roch Les Vignes Rosé Côtes de Provence.  
Made with 50% Grenache and 50% Cinsault, this rosé is pale salmon pink in color with a faint golden hue and golden edge. It has a lovely floral perfume with hints of berry fruit and is balanced with lovely finesse. Floral berry tinged flavors are beautifully integrated with a crisp citrus tinged finish making the wine very easy to drink – Highly Recommended.       $13.99     Jeff Welburn Selections Wine Agencies, Inc. Van Nuys, CA

2012 Chateau du Rouet Rosé “Esterelle” Côtes de Provence.  
This is a saignee type rosé made as a by product of the red wine. The grapes are 50% Carignane, 20% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, and 10% Tibouren. Pale salmon pink in color with a golden hue and a faint golden edge, the wine has a lovely floral perfume with tinges of peach and berry fruit. Soft and delicate with subtle fruit flavors hinting of berries and peach with a faint underlying citrus tinge, this is a lovely rosé with a lot of elegance – Highly Recommended.    $13.99      Selection Eric Stauffenegger Vigneron Imports Oakland, CA    

 

2012 Chateau de Peyrassol Rosé “Commanderie” Côtes de Provence.
Founded by the Knights of Templar in the middle ages, the first harvest occurred here in 1256. In the 1970s the wine began being bottled under the name Chateau de Peyrassol. It is made from Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault and has a pale salmon pink color with a faint golden hue. There is a lovely floral perfume that also shows hints of citrus and a faint touch of spice. Very pure and expressive, this is a rosé with a distinctive floral tinged flavor with hints of berries, citrus, and a faint underlying spiciness. With a balanced underlying crispness this is really delicious  – Outstanding.    $17.99      Imported by Neal Rosenthal Wine Merchant New York, NY

 

2012 Cibonne Tentations Rosé Côtes de Provence. 
Made with 40% Cinsault, 40% Grenache, and 20% Tibouren the grapes are sourced from vineyards around Chateau Cibonne which was founded in 1797, this is a lovely finesseful rosé. It has a very pale amber color with a golden hue and a lovely floral perfume with hints of orange zest. Silky and supple with gorgeous floral tinged flavors showing hints of peach and orange, this rosé shows great elegance and is beautifully balanced with a lovely underlying crispness – Outstanding.      $18.99     Imported by Estate Wines Ltd. San Rafael, CA

 

2012 Château de Pampelonne Rosé Côtes de Provence.
Made with 40% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 20% Syrah, and 10% Tibouren, this rosé is pale salmon pink in color and has a lovely floral perfume with hints of cherry and peach. Rounded, supple, and very flavorful with floral citrus nuances and a tinge of cherry, this is a wine that has finesse and is beautifully balanced with a nice citrus tinge. Very appealing this is simply a gorgeous rosé  – Outstanding.    $17.99     Jeff Welburn Selections  Wine Agencies, Inc. Van Nuys, CA

2012 Miravel Rosé Côtes de Provence.
Look who is getting into the rosé game. This wine is a joint venture between Brad Pitt and Angela Jolie and Famille Perrin. It comes in a beautiful bottle and is light salmon pink in color with a faint orange hue with a lovely floral berry perfume. Very finesseful with floral nuances and subtle berry fruit this is a very nice rosé with lots of early appeal – Highly Recommended.     $19.95    Imported by Vineyard Brands Birmingham, AL

2012 Saint Andre de Figuière Rosé “Magali” Côtes de Provence.
This wine is made from an assemblage of 30% Syrah, 30% Cabernet, 25% Grenache, and 15% Cinsault grapes coming from 15 to 25 year old vines. It is pale salmon pink in color and has a lovely floral perfume with a tinge of citrus and a faint mineral undertone. Soft and supple with subtle hints of peach and citrus with a floral nunance, the wine has a nicely balanced crispness and has a lot of early appeal – Highly Recommended.    $16.99   Imported by Paul M. Young Fine Wines Los Angeles, CA

           

2012 Saint Andre de Figuière Rosé “Premiere” Côtes de Provence.
The annual production of this wine is 4500 cases. It is made from 50% Mouvèdre, 25% Grenache, and 25% Cinsault grapes harvested from old vines. With 12.5% alcohol, it has a pale amber color with a gold hue and a great floral perfume with hints of peach and a faint exotic tinge. Silky and supple with great style and finesse, this is beautifully balanced rosé with hints of peach, a hint of mango, and floral citrus nuances all wonderfully integrated with a nice underlying crispness – Outstanding.           $19.99     Imported by Paul M. Young Fine Wines Los Angeles, CA

          

Languedoc-Roussillon
The Languedoc-Roussillon région of France spans the Mediterranean coastline from the French border with Spain to the region of Provence. The area has around 700,000 acres under vines and is the single biggest wine-producing region in the world, accounting for more than a third of France’s total wine production.

 

2012 Chateau Coupe Roses Fremillant Rosé Minervois.
Minervois is an appellation within the Languedoc-Roussillon region producing mostly red wines predominately from the Carigane grape along with Grenache, Syrah, Mouvèdre, and Lledoner Pelut. Fremillant is an old French word referring to a very light, fresh red wine. This is a rosé de saignée from parcels chosen for this rosé and harvested by hand. The blend is based on Mourvèdre (roughly 40%), then mostly equal proportions of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah. Only about 600 cases of this wine are produced each year. This 2012 is unique and delicious. It is light red in color with lovely floral perfume showing cherries and a hint of spice. With gorgeous cherry tinged fruit, the wine is supple and lush with a bright underlying citrus tone and is beautifully balanced. This is a delicious, light, fruity and delicious rosé that has great early appeal with a wide variety of foods including grilled meats – Outstanding.         $13.99      Best Buy    Imported by Vintage 59 Imports Washington, DC

 

2012 Chateau Viranel Rosé  “Tradition” Saint Chinian.
Made by a small family domaine in the Saint Chinian region of the Languedoc from Syrah, Grenache Noir, and Cinsault, this rosé has a light orange pink color with a golden hue. The perfume is gorgeous with cherry fruit and floral spice nuances and the wine has great fruit with cherry berry nuances and a floral undertone. Supple and beautifully balanced it has lots of finesse and appeal with a lovely underlying crispness – Outstanding.      $13.99  Best Buy  Selected by K&L Wine Merchants and imported by Premier Wine Company Richmond, CA

 

2012 Domaine Begude Pinot Noir Rosé Vin de Pays d’Oc
Domaine Begude is a small family owned domaine in the cool climate region of Limoux in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. This is a delicious Pinot Noir rosé that is a great bargain. With 12% alcohol, the wine has a light reddish orange color with a golden edge and a lovely perfume with hints of rose petals and raspberry with a faint spice nuance. Bright, crisp, and very fresh there is lots of very pure, yet sappy raspberry and strawberry fruit with an underlying citrus tinge. With lots of charm and great style and balance this is a really delicious rosé – Outstanding.         $12.99   Best Buy   Selected by K&L Wine Merchants and imported by Premier Wine Company Richmond, CA   

  

2012 Domaine De St Antoine Rosé Pays Du Gard.
The Pays Du Gard is an area within the larger area of Languedoc Roussillon. This wine is made from Syrah and is an absolutely stunning fruit driven rosé with great early appeal. Light reddish orange in color with a golden hue and golden edge, the perfume is gorgeous with floral notes and cherry, raspberry, and watermelon fruit. Intensely fruit and bright and crisp, the flavors of cherry, raspberry, and watermelon are accented by a nice crispness and the wine is balanced and really delicious. This rosé is a real bargain and not to be missed – Outstanding.         $11.49   Best Buy   Imported by Robert Kacher Selections New York, NY

2012 Domaine Saint-Eugénie Rosé Corbières.
Domaine Saint-Eugènie is located in the foothills of the Pyrénées mountains along the Mediterranean coast. This rosé is made from 75% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, and 10% Grenache. It is pale pink in color with a golden hue and has a lovely faintly floral perfume with hints of cherries. Elegant and supple with very nice floral tinged berry fruit the wine is also accented by a nice underlying crispness – Highly Recommended.     $12.99    Imported by Robert Kacher Selections New York, NY

2012 Les Vignerons de Fontes Rosé “Prieure Saint-Hippolyte” Languedoc.   
Made by the co-op Les Vignerons de Fontes, this rosé is composed of 70% Syrah and  30% Grenache. Very light salmon pink in color with a faint orange hue, the wine has a lovely floral perfume with cherry and raspberry nuances and is supple and soft with lots  of berry fruit accented by a kiss of spice and citrus – Highly Recommended Plus.        $11.99   Best Buy    Imported by DM Vineyards & Partners  Oakland, CA   

2012 Mas Champart Rosé Saint Chinian.
This rosé is made with 60% Mouvère, 30% Cinsault, and 10% Syrah. It is very light golden amber in color with a golden edge and has a lovely floral perfume with just a kiss of spice. Supple, lush and rounded with very pure fruit and a nice underlying crispness this is a lovely rosé – Highly Recommended Plus.        $15.00    Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

Les Baux De Provence
Les Baux-de-Provence is an area in southern France in the province of Provence. It sits in the Alpilles mountains atop a rocky outcrop overlooking plains to the south.

2012 Mas de Gourgonnier Rosé Les Baux De Provence.
Pale orange pink in color with a golden hue, this rosé has a lovely floral herbal perfume with hints of berry fruit. Finesseful and crisp with lovely floral tinged berry fruit the wine is very pure and has a nice freshness –  Highly Recommended.     $13.99   Imported by Michael Skurnik Wines Syosset, NY

 

Loire Valley
The Loire Valley is home to great Sancerre and many other wonderful white wines as well as elegant Pinot Noir and beautiful rosés mostly made from Cabernet Franc or Pinot Noir.

2012 Chateau l’Eperonniere Rosé de Loire.
Château l’Eperonniere is a small property in the Beaufort-sur-Layon region. This wine is made from Cabernet Franc and Grolleau grapes. Pale salmon pink in color with a faint reddish hue and a golden edge, the wine has a lovely berry perfume with a faint floral nuance. It has very pure berry fruit with a citrus tinge and is racy, bright, and crisp – Highly Recommended.          $15.99     Imported by Rosenthal Wine Merchant New York, NY

 

RhoneValley
The Rhone Valley is a large area in southern France producing mostly red wines with some white wines and rosés. Tavel is a separate appellation producing only rosé wines.

2012 Chateau de Campuget “Tradition De Campuget Rosé” Costiéres De Nimes.
Very light orange pink in color with a golden hue and a golden edge, this rosé is made with 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache Noir and has a subtle perfume with a touch of citrus, red berries, and spice. It has nice restrained berry fruit with floral citrus nuances and just a kiss of spice – Highly Recommended.   $9.99    Imported by Dreyfus Ashby & Co New York NY

 

2012  Château D’ Or et De Gueules  Rosé “Les Cimels” Costiéres De Nimes.
With 12.5% alcohol this rosé is made from Grenache, Syrah, and Mouvèdre. It is stunningly delicious and a great buy. Pale salmon pink in color with a faint golden hue and a golden edge, the wine has a gorgeous perfume with floral nuances and faint hints of peach, citrus, and strawberry. Lovely, supple and silky with a bright underlying crispness the flavors of peach, citrus and strawberry are very well integrated with a faint floral nuance. This is a really beautiful, elegant, and finesseful rosé with lots of charm and is oh so easy to drink  –  Outstanding.       $13.99   Best Buy   Imported by Robert Kacher Selections New York, NY

2012 Château Guiot Rosé Costières De Nimes.
Made with 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah this rosé often has a deep color and is intensely fruity. This 2012 is a bit more restrained. It has a light reddish color with a golden hue and a gorgeous perfume with floral, cherry, berry nuances. The wine is supple and rounded with elegance and finesse and shows lovely cherry and berry fruit with a floral note. This is a very lovely fruit driven rosé that is very easy to drink – Highly Recommended.      $13.50   Imported by Robert Kacher Selections Nerw York, NY

 

2012 Domaine De Fondrèche Rosé L’ Instant Ventoux.
Made from 60% Cinsault as well as Mouvèdre and Grenache, this is consistently a lovely elegant and finesseful rosé and a real bargain to boot. If you value this style of rosé as I do, you really must try this. I just drank the 2011 alongside the 2012 and both were absolutely delicious! With just 12% alcohol, this 2012 is light salmon pink in color and has a gorgeous floral tinged perfume with hints of peach and a touch of citrus. Very finesseful, elegant and bright with a wonderful supple texture accented by a nice underlying crispness, this is a very pure rosé with floral, peach, and citrus nuances and just a hint of strawberry. It is irresistible – Outstanding.       $13.99    Best Buy    Imported by Robert Kacher Selections New York, NY

2012 Domaine De La Petite Cassagne Rosé Costiéres De Nimes.
With 12.5% alcohol this is a lovely fruity rosé at a very attractive price. A bit more restrained than some previous vintages, it is still elegant and very tasty. With a pale salmon pink color and a faint golden hue, the wine has a subtle perfume with floral berry nuances and is supple and rounded with nice berry flavors accented by a faint floral undertone  – Highly Recommended.     $11.49    Imported by Robert Kacher Selections New York, NY

2012 Domaine de Fenouillet Rosé  Côtes du Ventoux.
Pale salmon pink in color with a golden hue and a golden edge, this is a very nice rosé with a subtle floral perfume with faint hints of citrus and peach. Supple and elegant with lovely floral peach tinged fruit and a nice underlying crispness the wine has lots of charm and early appeal – Highly Recommended.     $12.99   Imported by Neal Rosenthal Wine Merchant New York, NY

2012 Mas Des Bressandes Rosé Cuvée Tradition Costières De Nimes.
Made from 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 20% Cinsault, this rosé has a light reddish orange color with a golden hue and has a lovely floral perfume with hints of raspberry and strawberry. It is elegant and balanced with very nice fruit and a nice crispness and is very easy to drink – Highly Recommended.   $10.95    Imported by Robert Kacher Selections New York, NY

2012 Domaine Pallières Rosé “Au Petit Bonheur”. 
Pale salmon pink in color this rosé has a subtle perfume with floral berry notes. It has lovely very pure floral berry fruit with just a tinge of spice and a nice underlying crispness. All in all, a lovely very elegant rosé – Highly Recommended Plus.     $22.00   Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

2012 M. Chapoutier Rosé Belleruche Côtes-Du-Rhone.
Pale pink in color this rosé has a subtle floral perfume with a hint of strawberries. It has lovely strawberry tinged fruit with a floral undertone and is supple and rounded with a nice underlying crispness – Highly Recommended.      $12.00    Imported by Terlato Wines International Lake Bluff, IL

 

Tavel
Tavel, located in the Rhone Valley, is the only appellation in France that makes only rosé. Typically, the wines are lush and supple with lots of fruit and are capable of aging for some time in bottle. They are wines that are best served with hearty summer foods and marry very well with spicy dishes.

 

2012 Chateau De Trinquevedel Tavel Rosé.
Consistently a lovely and beautifully balanced rosé, this 2012 is true to form. It is light reddish pink in color and has a gorgeous floral perfume with tinges of watermelon and a very faint spiciness. With lovely very pure fruit showing cherry and watermelon, the wine has lots of elegance and finesse with great balance accented by a citrus tinge – Outstanding.         $18.00   Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley,  CA  

  

2012 Domaine Lafond Roc-Epine Tavel Rosé.
Light reddish pink in color this rosé has a lovely floral perfume with hints of raspberry and cherry and just a faint kiss of spice. Very fruity, lush, and elegant this Tavel is defined by cherry and raspberry fruit with a floral spice nuance. It is beautifully balanced with 13.5% alcohol and has a very nice underlying crispness that adds great appeal – Outstanding.       $15.95    Imported by Wines of France, Inc. Mountainside, NJ

 

2012 Domaine De la Mordorée “La Dame Rousse” Tavel Rosé.
With a light reddish color showing hints of pink and a golden hue, this is a seriously rich rosé with 14.5% alcohol that, nonetheless, shows balance and a compelling lushness. It is made with 60% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, and 20% Syrah and has a gorgeous perfume with cherries and berries accented by watermelon and floral spice nuances. This wine is very pure and flavorful with depth and richness accented by a nice crispness on the finish and is simply delicious – Outstanding Plus.   $24.99    Imported by Kysela Père et Fils Ltd Winchester, PA

 

ITALY
Like Spain, Italy makes many lovely rosés, although not very many are imported here. Here are some lovely examples.

2012 Corte Gardoni Bardolino “Chiaretto” Rosé
Located in the Veneto region of Italy this rosé is made from 50% Corvina, 30% Rondinella and 20% other grape varieties. It is light reddish orange in color with a golden hue and has a lovely floral perfume with hints of raspberry. Bright and crisp with lovely raspberry fruit showing a nice citrus tinge, this is a very tasty rosé – Highly Recommended.    $12.95   Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley,  CA  

 

2012 Castello di Ama  Rosato Toscana.
This is a consistently delicious rosé made by the great super Tuscan estate Castello di Ama. This 2012 is light reddish pink in color with a golden edge and has a lovely floral perfume with berry fruit and spice accents. It is bright, fresh, and crisp with very pure berry fruit and a nice underlying crispness. Full and flavorful, this wine is beautifully balanced and delicious to drink – Outstanding.       $17.99     Imported by  The Sorting Table Napa, CA

                                                      

2012 Tenuta Guado Al Tasso Rosato Scalabrone Bolgheri.
This is a rosé that I always find beautifully crafted with great purity and finesse. Unfortunately, I do not often come across it in this country. This 2012 is available here and shows the style and balance that is so characteristic of the wine.  It is light reddish pink in color and has a lovely floral perfume tinged with raspberry. Light, crisp, and fresh with subtle hints of raspberries and cherries with a faint underlying citrus nuance, this is a gorgeous rosé that exudes charm and delivers great pleasure – Outstanding.         $23.59    Imported by Michelle Wine Estates, LTD Woodinville, WA

2012 Montenidoli Canaiuolo Rosato Toscana.
Pale orange color with a golden hue and a golden edge, this rosé has a subtle floral tinged perfume with tinges of citrus. It is very crisp, clean and zesty with bright berry fruit is flavorful with a nice underlying citrus tinge. This is a very good rosé with a wide assortment of pastas, especially tomato based ones – Highly Recommended.      $21.99   Imported by Wine House Limited San Francisco, CA

 

SPAIN
Spain makes some of the fruitest rosés which are usually very reasonably priced. What I don’t understand is why more of them are not available here. The offset to the fruity rosés is the tongue twisting Ameztoi “Rubentis” Rosé Getariako Txakolina. It is certainly one of the most unusual and bone dry rosés you will ever taste. With a cult following and a relatively high price, try it if you are looking for something really unusual.

2012 Ameztoi “Rubentis” Rosé Getariako Txakolina.
Just five minutes down the coast from San Sebastian, Ameztoi’s vineyards overlook the Atlantic Ocean. The Ameztoi family has been making Txakolina in Getaria for seven generations, utilizing the indigenous Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza grapes to craft a light, crisp wine bottled with residual carbon dioxide to give it its signature natural spritz. I find these wines are very consistent in style from year to year with this 2012 being especially light and dry with only 10.5% alcohol. Very pale pink in color with a faint golden hue, the wine has a faint floral perfume with citrus and mineral undertones. Very crisp with hints of tart berry fruit and citrus the wine is very light, bone dry, and spritzy – Recommended Plus.      $19.99     Imported by De Maison Selections, Inc. Chapel Hill, SC

  

2012 Cune Rosato Rioja.
This rosé is made by fifth generation owners from handpicked Tempranillo grapes. It is stunning delicious and brimming with bright fruit. Light red in color with a golden pink hue, the wine has a gorgeous floral tinged perfume with cherry and berry fruit as well as hints of watermelon. Intensely fruity and crisp on the palate with berry, cherry, and watermelon fruit this is a really terrific and flavorful fruit driven rosé that is a great value Outstanding.      $10.49   Best Buy   Imported by Eurovin USA Van Nuys, CA

 

 À VOTRE SANTÉ! ENJOY!!