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2013 ROSÉS

John Tilson • 6/8/14        Print This Post Print This PostComment Bookmark and Share

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Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. This is the prime time for rosé. Actually, in warmer climate areas, any time of the year is a great time for rosé. But, the spring and early summer is the time that most imported rosés start to arrive and domestic rosés are released. It used to be that there were very few domestic rosés. But, today there are many. Still the number of rosés available are dominated by those from France (particularly Provence), Italy, and Spain. The amount of imported rosés continues to grow and there is no end in sight! This is great news (To read the article ROSÉ – IT’S TIME HAS COME click here).

Thirty or so years ago when I first started drinking French rosés many people would laugh. They felt that rosé was just cheap sweet plonk! Ha. What did they know? Today many of those people are in my camp and are great fans of rosé. Why? That’s simple: it’s because the wines are dry, beautifully balanced, great accompaniments to all types of food, and very enjoyable and easy to drink. And, in addition, the prices are generally very affordable with a very large number of rosés available in the $10 to $20 per bottle price range. Finally, I really like the fact that they are mostly ignored by the big numbers boys.  That has insulated them from the excessive ripeness and alcohol that have plagued many other wines (to read my article entitled ROSÉ IS THE PERFECT ANTI WINE  click here  and to read the articles on 2012 roses with background on many of the wines and some of the best importers of rosé click here to read 2012 ROSÉS and click here to read MORE 2012 ROSÉS.

So Rosé is a wine that every wine lover should explore.  This year it is the 2013 vintage that is front and center. I cannot think of a year where there were not a lot of terrific rosés. But there are year to year variations, even though they tend to be very subtle. In the case of the 2013s, the wines seem to be particularly bright and aromatic across the board. There are many really superb rosés this year. So don’t wait. If you have not tried rosé, now is the time to get in the game. If you have, you will be charmed and amazed at these delicious 2013s. It’s a great year for rosés.  Enjoy!

FRANCE

Commanderie de la Bargemone

Commanderie de la Bargemone
This is the background from last year’s article (to read that article click here). The commanderie was founded by the Templar knights in the 13th century. It was named Bargemone after the family that owned it for some 200 years. It passed from their hands in the 1800s and the vineyards succumbed to Phylloxera. In 1973, the property was purchased by Jean-Pierre Rozen who restored the commanderie and replanted the vineyards. After his passing in 2006 the controlling interest in the vineyards and winery was sold to the current owners, Christian and Marie Garin. Today there are more than 160 acres of vineyards and 2/3 of the production is rosé.

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2013 Commanderie de la Bargemone Rosé Coteaux d’Aix en Provence
This is a consistently superb rosé whose composition changes from year to year. This 2013 is composed of 30% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 20% Cinsault, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Carignane, and 6% white varietals including Vermentino, Ugni Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc. The addition of the white varietals this year seems to give the wine an extra dimension of crispness. The color is very pale pink and the perfume soars from the glass with floral citrus notes and hints of strawberry and coconut with a faint tinge of spice. Lush and elegant with lots of brightness, the flavors show subtle hints of strawberry and peach with citrus tinges. This is a really terrific rosé with finesse, flavor, complexity, and balance. It is very versatile and marries well with almost any kind of food especially fresh fish, salads, vegetables and white meats. And, yes it is a great value – Outstanding Plus.     $17   Best Buy     Imported by Hand Picked Selections Warrenton, VA

2013 Chateau de Lancyre Rosé Pic Saint Loup
Made with 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Cinsault this is a delicious rosé. Pale orange in color with a faint golden hue it has gorgeous floral perfume with just a touch of spice. Showing lovely fruit with subtle hints of peach and apricot and a kiss of citrus the wine is refined and balanced with irresistible charm – Outstanding.    $20     Imported by Hand Picked Selections Warrenton, VA

2013 Villa des Anges Old Vines Rosé Pays d’Oc
This is an unusual rosé made from 100% old vines Cinsault. It is very pale orange pink in color with a golden hue and a lovely perfume with floral herbal nuances. On the palate the wine is crisp, clean, and bright  and the fruit is subtle with faint hints of peach and citrus. This is a finesseful and very attractively priced rosé – Highly Recommended.  $11   Best Buy   Imported by Hand Picked Selections Warrenton, VA

2013 Chateau du Donjon Rosé Minervois
This rosé is from Minervois which is one of the oldest wine growing regions in the Languedoc. And, this property has been owned by the same family for 500 years! That’s real staying power! It is made with 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 30% Cinsault and has a pale pink color with a faint golden hue. The perfume is gorgeous showing floral nuances with cherry, strawberry, and citrus fruit. Beautifully balanced with lots of strawberry tinged fruit showing tinges of citrus, the wine is crisp and very flavorful – Outstanding.  $17   Imported by Hand Picked Selections Warrenton, VA

2013 Domaine Enclos de Croix Rosé Pays d’Herault
The Pay’s d’Herault is a sub region of the Languedoc and utilizes different grape varities. This wine is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Pale orange in color with a faint golden hue the wine has a floral herbal spice tinged perfume. Rounded with subtle hints of citrus tinged berry fruit, the wine is accented by a nice underlying crispness – Highly Recommended.   $14   Imported by Hand Picked Selections Warrenton, VA

2013 Penya Rosé Vin d’Pays Cotes Catalanes
Cases de Pene is a tiny village in the South of France just 30 miles north of the Spanish border. This area was ceded to France in the 17th century and is still known as French Catalonia. Penya is the Catalan spelling of the ancient chateau and village wine cooperative. The wine is made at the cooperative from grapes grown by the local vigerons – Les Vigerons de Cases de Penya. This is a consistently delicious rosé that is a really good value. This 2013 is made from 96% Grenache Noir and 4% Syrah is very attractive and brimming with fruit. It is pale orange pink in color with a golden hue and has a lovely floral perfume tinged with peach and raspberry. Elegant and finesseful with faint floral nuances and suggestions of raspberry, watermelon, and citrus, the wine is balanced by a nice underlying crispness. This is a lovely, very attractively priced, rosé – Highly Recommended Plus.   $11   Best Buy   Imported by Hand Picked Selections Warrenton, VA

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2013 Le Cirque Rosé Cotes Catalanes
This is a consistently outstanding fruit driven rosé that also just happens to be a great value. So what’s not to like? This 2013 is blended with 35% Grenache, 35% Syrah, and 30% Mouvèdre. It is light pink in color with a reddish orange hue and shows a lovely floral perfume accented by citrus and strawberry nuances. Bright, crisp, and zesty there is an abundance of red fruit flavors intermingling strawberry, raspberry, and watermelon with a faint citrus undertone. A delicious extremely versatile rosé, this makes a wonderful accompaniment to almost any food you can imagine including meat, fish, and anything spicy – Outstanding.   $14   Best Buy   Imported by Hand Picked Selections Warrenton, VA

2013 Domaine Cabirau Rosé Cotes du Roussillon
This rosé is made from an unusual blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Macabeu, and 10% Syrah. Pale red in color with orange tones, the wine has a lovely floral cherry perfume with a faint spice tinge. On the palate, there is lots of supple fruit showing watermelon nuances and a faint spiciness and an underlying citrus tinge. Bright, very pure and crisp this is a really tasty rosé – Outstanding.   $15    Best Buy   Imported by Hand Picked Selections Warrenton, VA

2013 Domaine Vaquer “l’Ephémère” Rosé Cotes du Roussillon
Made from 1/3 each Grenache, Syrah, and Carignan, this is a full throttle rosé that could pass for a light red wine. If you love red wines and are not too familiar with rosés, this should have particular appeal. Served well chilled, it is a very good match with red meat and grilled foods. Pale red in color with a faint golden hue, the wine has a deep fruity floral tinged perfume. Lots of fruit, which intermingles red and black fruit flavors, is very expressive on the palate and there is a nice underlying crispness. With a lot of depth this is a rosé to try – Highly Recommended Plus.   $22   Imported by Hand Picked Selections Warrenton, VA

2013 Domaine Le Pive Gris (Rosé) Sable de Camargue
This rosé is made from 30% Grenache Gris, 30% Grenache Noir, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. It has a very pale pick color with a golden hue and a lovely floral perfume with tinges of spice and peach. On the palate there is a lot of floral tinged fruit with underlying hints of peach and citrus and a very faint spiciness. Finesseful and balanced and flavorful with a nice crispness, this is a gorgeous rosé – Outstanding.   $16   Imported by Hand Picked Selections Warrenton, VA

2013 Les Rocailles Rosé de Savoie
Made 100% from Gamay grapes this is a lovely fruit driven rosé. It has a very light orange red color with a golden hue and a subtle floral perfume with hints of strawberry and cherry. Soft and rounded with tinges of strawberry and raspberry, this is a rosé with great early appeal that is very easy to drink – Highly Recommended.   $18   Imported by Hand Picked Selections Warrenton, VA

Domaine de l’ Abbaye Clos Beylesse Rosé Cotes De Provence
I first tasted the Clos Beylesse Rosé in the 2009 vintage. I was immediately impressed with the great style and finesse of the wine. And, in each year since, the wine has been stunning. I buy it every year and drink it often. Here’s the background note on Domaine de l’Abbaye from last year (to read the entire article click here).
Today this property is owned by Franc Petit who acquired it some 45 years ago. Prior to that time it was owned by a Provencal family. The property originally belonged to the Cistercian monastery which was founded in 1098 at Citeaux in Burgundy. They expanded to Le Thoronet in Provence in the mid 12th century and built a monastery. They made wine and olive oil and produced their own food. This was intact until the late 18th century when the property was declared bankrupt and the property sold. The physical property was one of the first to be declared a historical monument and today is owned by the French government. The surrounding properties are privately owned. The Domaine de l’Abbaye consists of over 80 acres. About 1/3 is vineyards and most of the remaining land is planted to olives. A small, historic vineyard called the Clos Beylesse consists of just under 20 acres. When Franc Petit acquired the property he began replanting the vineyards and orchards. Now in his 70s, he continues to do all the work with the assistance of a few helpers. Some 25 years ago he determined that the best grapes were coming from the Clos Beylesse which he had replanted. He therefore decided to make a wine exclusively from that plot. He chose the distinctive and beautiful cobalt blue bottle because of the proximity of the vineyard to the sea. And, although there are small amounts of two other rosés made from estate grown grapes, today most of the production comes from the Clos Beylesse which amounts to approximately 3500 cases a year. The grapes used consist of mostly Syrah and Grenache with some Cinsault. This is a consistently excellent rosé with great style and finesse and the bottle is really gorgeous as well.

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2013 Domaine de l’Abbaye Clos Beylesse Rosé Cotes De Provence
Just for openers, Clos Beylesse is always a beautiful sight to behold in its beautiful cobalt blue bottle.  Is this the best of all the recent vintages of this wine? Well, I don’t really know and I don’t really care. All I know is that every vintage of this wine I have ever tasted have all been delicious.  And this 2013 is no exception. Perhaps this year’s version is a bit brighter and crisper, but no matter. The wine is magical. Very pale salmon pink in color with a golden hue it has a gorgeous floral perfume with hints of peach, citrus, and strawberry. Very bright and finesseful with a soft supple mouth feel, the wine has a wonderful understated complexity showing citrus, peach, and strawberry with just a faint hint of lychee and underlying floral notes. And, it is soooo easy to drink and a wonderful match for a wide range of lighter foods – Outstanding Plus.   $24   Imported by Wine Emporium  Brooklyn, N.Y.

2013 Mas de Gourgonnier Rosé Les Baux de Provence
This wine is made from a blend of estate grown organic grapes consisting of Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, and Mouvèdre. Consistently it is a terrific rosé and a great value. This 2013 is no exception. Very light reddish pink in color the wine has a lovely floral perfume tinged with cherry. Soft, supple, and rounded yet with a bright underlying crispness it has hints of strawberry, cherry, and citrus with an underlying floral nuance. Flaovorful with a lot of finesse and charm, this a really lovely rosé at a very attractive price – Outstanding.    $13    Best Buy   Imported by Michael Skurnik Wines Syosset, N.Y.

2013 Chateau du Rouet Rosé Cuvée Réservée Tradition Cotes De Provence
Situated in the heart of Provence at the foot of the red rock mountains, part of the Esterel mountain range, the Savatier family has owned this property since the 18th century. The vineyards were destroyed by fire and were replanted in the 1920s.  The Cuvée Reservée Rosé is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. It is consistently one of the best values in Côtes de Provence rosés and this 2013 continues the trend. Pale salmon pink in color with a faint golden hue, the wine has a lovely peach tinged perfume with a floral nuance. Soft, rounded, and very elegant, subtle hints of peach and citrus are framed by a nice underlying crispness. This is a very stylistic and delicious rosé that is also a great value – Outstanding.     $13    Best Buy   Imported by Europvin U.S.A. Van Nuys, CA

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2013 Domaine Begude Pinot Rosé Limoux Vin de Pays d’Oc
Domaine Begude is a small family-owned property located high in the foothills of the Pyrenees in the Limoux region of the Languedoc. The long, cool growing season lends itself to the production of crisp and delicate wines. Pale orange pink in color with a golden hue this rosé has a very nice perfume with a tinge of citrus and raspberry. Very crisp and bright, the flavors hint of citrus and raspberry with floral nuances and the finish shows a very nice crispness – Highly Recommended.     $12.99     Selected by K&L Wine Merchants

2013 Domaine Franck Millet Sancerre Rosé
While Sancerre is mostly known for its beautiful white wines, it is also home to some nice red wines and some really lovely rosés. This wine has a pale orange pink hue with a golden hue and lovely floral strawberry perfume with flinty nuances. Well structured with lovely citrus tinged strawberry fruit, this is a very tasty rosé – Highly Recommended Plus.    $16.99    Selected by K&L Wine Merchants

2013 Les Vignerons De Fontés Prièré Saint Hippolyte Rosé Languedoc
This rosé comes from a co-op in the South of France. It’s a blend of Syrah and Grenache growing in volcanic soils in the heart of the Languedoc. Pale salmon pink in color with a golden edge the wine has a sbtle spice tinged strawberry perfume and soft, rounded and supple with nice fruit and a balancing citrus tinge on the finish. This is a very nice rosé and a very good value – Highly Recommended.   $10.99    Best Buy   Imported by DM Vineyards and Partners Oakland, CA

2013 Chateau Virandel Tradition Rosé Sainte-Chinian
Château Viranel is a small family-run domaine located in the Languedoc appellation of Saint-Chinian. Made from Syrah, Grenache Noir and Cinsault, the wine is pale orange pink in color with a golden edge. Showing a lovely floral perfume with hints of cherry and watermelon, it is bright and crisp with subtle hints of cherry and watermelon with a nice contrasting lemon lime component. This is a really lovely stylistic rosé that is very attractively priced – Outstanding.    $13.99    Best Buy    Selected by K&L Wine Merchants

Domaine de Fontsainte Gris de Gris (Rosé) Corbières
Year in and year out this is a simply gorgeous rosé. And, the price is also very attractive. The Gris de Gris means gray from gray and refers to the Grenache Gris grape which is the primary grape varietal used to make this rosé. The first vineyards at Domaine de Fonsainte were planted by the Romans over 2000 years ago. And the same family has been making wine here since the 17th century! That says something about staying power!!
This is a rosé I buy every year and it always provides immense enjoyment. I also have bottles that I keep for a few years as the wine ages very gracefully. If you do not know this wine the 2013 is a great place to start!

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2013 Domaine de Fontsainte Gris de Gris (Rosé) Corbières
Pale pink in color with a faint reddish hue this rosé has a great floral perfume with hints of citrus and strawberry. Very elegant with gorgeous fruit, it shows a mélange of strawberry, citrus, and cherry with a faint hint of almond. Supple and rounded, but with a bright underlying crispness, this is a rosé that is a real joy to drink and marries beautifully with a wide range of foods  – Outstanding Plus.     $14.95   Best Buy  Imported By Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

2013 Chateau Des Deux Rocs Rosé Prémices Languedoc Corbières
This is a relatively new domaine located in the isolated Vallé des Crozes. The area is enclosed and located 1000 feet above sea level where it receives a lot of sun and is protected from the winds. The name Prémices means a sign of things to come. This rosé is made from grapes grown on vines averaging 35 years of age and consists of 60% Cinsault, 25% Syrah, and 15% Grenache Noir. It is really gorgeous and is a great start of things to come! Pale pink in color with a faint golden hue the wine has a lovely perfume with hints of cherry and citrus. Delicate, yet flavorful with a suggestion of raspberry and rhubarb, this is a soft, very stylistic rosé that is beautifully balanced and exudes charm –  Outstanding.   $15   Best Buy    Imported By Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

2013  Chateau de Lascaux Rosé Languedoc
Made with 40% Cinsault, 30% Syrah, and 30% Grenache this is a gorgeous rosé with great flavor, finesse, and style. Pale golden orange in color the wine has a lovely floral perfume with hints of melon and peach and a very faint spice tinge. Rounded and supple, it shows melon and peach fruit with a nice underlying crispness and is beautifully balanced and very easy to drink – Outstanding.    $17   Imported By Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

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2013 Miraval Rosé Côtes De Provence
Miraval is a new rosé that first appeared as a 2012 last year. It is a joint venture between the well known Hollywood couple Brad Pitt and Angela Jolie and Famille Perrin from grapes grown on the estate the couple owns in the Côtes de Provence. As might be expected, the 2012 was met with a deluge of enthusiasm with some hyping it to the point of calling it the greatest rosé in the world!  Well, after all, that’s Hollywood!!
The wine is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle and, forgetting the hype, this 2013 is a lovely stylistic rosé. It is pale pink in color with a faint golden edge and has a lovely floral perfume with faint hints of citrus, strawberry, and cherry. With great finesse and structure, the flavors show subtle hints of strawberry with cherry and citrus undertones. Very easy to drink, there is no question that this is a terrific rosé – Outstanding.   $20.99   Imported by Vineyard Brands Birmingham, AL

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2013 Domaine Manquilini Rosé de Sciaccarellu Vin de Corse
From Corsica, this rosé made from 92% Sciaccarellu and 8% Syrah, is as light in color as any rosé you are ever likely to see. It has a very, very pale pink color that is almost clear. From the color one would expect a delicate wine. This is true. But this is only part of the story. The fact is the wine is very aromatic with floral nuances and very faint hints of sage, mint, and citrus. On the palate, it is soft and silky with expressive and very subtle floral tones accented by hints of melon and citrus. Very finesseful, yet flavorful, this is a rosé that melts in your mouth and leaves a lingering impression. All in all, this is a delicious and very unique rosé that is a must buy for all rosé lovers – Outstanding Plus.   $28   Imported By Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

2013 Domaine Manquilini Rosé de Pauline lle de Beaute
This rosé is made from 60% Syrah and 40% Sciaccarellu and shows a pale salmon pink color with a golden hue. With a subtle floral perfume accented by faint hints of citrus and spice, the wine is very elegant and finesseful with delicate floral flavors also showing citrus and herbal nuances. And although silky and soft there is a bright crispness on the finish.  This is a really lovely and stylistic rosé – Outstanding.   $28    Imported By Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

2013 Régis Bouvier Marsannay Rosé
Made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes grown in the Marsannay area of Burgundy, this is an absolutely gorgeous rosé with a lot of class and breed. It is light pink in color with a reddish hue and a golden edge. The perfume is gorgeous with floral cherry nuances accented by a very faint spiciness. Very refined and elegant with very pure cherry fruit and underlying hints of floral spice, this is really delicious – Outstanding Plus.   $23   Imported By Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

2013 Charles Joguet Chinon Rosé
This domaine primarily makes several different vineyard bottlings of Chinon Rouge. But from the Cabernet Franc grapes that produce the red wine the domaine also makes a rosé that is consistently lovely and is capable of aging for quite a few years. This 2013 is initially a bit closed. It needs some air to open and be fully expressive. But, make no mistake; this is yet another gorgeous Chinon Rosé from Charles Joguet. Light reddish orange in color, with some air the perfume develops and shows cherry, raspberry, and citrus nuances with a floral undertone. Crisp, yet with lots of cherry and raspberry fruit, the wine is structured and flavorful with floral citrus accents. This is a full flavored rosé that is a great accompaniment to grilled meats and hearty dishes – Outstanding.   $20   Imported By Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

2013 Chateau de Trinquevadel Tavel Rosé
Tavel is the only appellation in France where only rosé is permitted. And the grapes used are limited to a maximum of 60% Grenache. Chateau de Trinquevadel has been under the same family ownership for four generations and consistently produces one of the finest Tavels. This 2013 is particularly bright and appealing. Made with 56% Grenache Noir, 20% Cinsault, 10% Clairette, 4% Syrah, 4% Bourbelenc, 3% Mouvèdre, and 3% Grenache Blanc, the wine is light red in color with a pink hue. It has a gorgeous perfume with cherry and watermelon accented by a nice floral quality and a very faint spiciness. Brimming with fresh very pure fruit the flavors of cherry and watermelon are very pure and bright with a nice underlying crispness. This is a really gorgeous Tavel that will complement almost any food and keep for several years as well – Outstanding Plus.  $18.50   Imported By Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

2013 Clos Ste. Magdeleine Cassis Rosé
The tiny fishing village of Cassis in the region of Provence has a history dating back to the 6th century B.C. Clos Ste. Magdeleine, with its vineyards stretching over a cape jutting out to limestone cliffs facing the Mediterranean, has been under the same ownership for four generations. Like the small band of other producers here, production is small and most of the wine made in Cassis is consumed locally with fresh fish. For many reasons the wines of Clos Ste. Magdeleine are special. This rosé is made with 40% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, and 20% Mouvèdre. It is very pale pink in color with a faint golden hue and has a great perfume tinged with wild strawberry and citrus with a subtle floral nuance. On the palate, the wine is supple and finesseful with faint hints of strawberry, melon, and citrus and a bright underlying crispness follows on the finish to bring everything together. This is a really delicious rosé – Outstanding Plus.   $36   Imported By Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

2013 Domaine de Reuilly Pinot Gris Rosé
The small area of Reuilly in the Eastern Loire Valley is mostly planted to Sauvignon Blanc. But within this area is Domaine Reuilly which also has a small plot of Pinot Gris. The Pinot Gris grapes are used only to produce rosé. Domaine de Reuilly Pinot Gris Rosé is a unique and consistently superb rosé that really shines in 2013. Pale pink in color with a faint golden hue the wine has a stunning floral perfume with hints of peach and citrus. With great balance and a lot of finesse and flavor, it is a very expressive rosé with hints of peach and citrus accented by a floral nuance. Delicious and a great match for a wide variety of foods this is very special – Outstanding Plus.   $20   Imported By Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

2013 Eric Chevalier Grolleau Rosé Val de Loire
This is an unusual rosé made entirely from the Grolleau grape. This grape was first planted in the Loire Valley in the early 19th century and once was a primary source of Anjou Rosé. Today the plantings have mostly been replaced by other varieties and very little Grolleau remains. Light pink in color the wine exhibits a citrus and mineral perfume which also follows through on the palate with very light strawberry and cranberry nuances. Clean, pure, and crisp with only 11% alcohol, this is mineral driven rosé that is a very nice match with fresh fish – Highly Recommended.   $15   Imported By Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkeley, CA

 CALIFORNIA

In recent years California has started to make some really nice dry rosés. But not all California rosés are made in a dry style and selectivity is very important (click here to read a recent article featuring two lovely 2013 rosés from Tablas Creek).  Generally, the best California dry rosés sell in a price range of $15-$30 or about the same as many of the French rosés. But, there are sometimes bargains. This is one.

2013 Amador Foothills Rosato Amador County
This is a very nice inexpensive rosé made from Sangiovese grapes. Like a lot of California rosés, the production was very small with only 370 cases produced. Light reddish pink in color with a golden hue the wine has a lovely floral tinged berry perfume and is loaded with berry fruit. Soft, rounded, and very tasty with a nice crispness on the finish this is a really good value – Highly Recommended.    $10.35   Best Buy

 SPAIN

Spain makes some really lovely rosés and many are great bargains. There are also some unusual ones such as the Amertoi Rubentis Rosé which is light, low in alcohol (11% or less), and bone dry with a slight spritz. It has achieved an almost cult status amongst some rosé lovers. The 2013 is very much in the mold of recent vintages.

2013 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 wine here for seven generations, utilizing the indigenous Hondarribi Zuri and Hondarribi Beltza grapes. Pale orange pink in color with a golden hue this 2013 rendition has a nice floral perfume with hints of cranberry. Hints of tart cherry and cranberry are married with a citrus tinged minerality and the wine is bright with a slight spritz and a bone dry finish. This is a very unique and distinctive rosé with a tongue twisting name. It is very refreshing and is best served very cold – Highly Recommended.     $19.99      Imported by De Maison Selections, Inc. Chapel Hill, SC

That’s openers for 2013 rosés. More are arriving all the time. There will be more notes to follow. In the meantime, go online or to your favorite merchant and buy a few. Do your own tasting. If you haven’t already tried rosé, you are missing one of life’s great enjoyments. And, cold rosé is especially nice when the weather is warm.

 glasses of rose wine

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