The 2014 Rosés are now beginning to arrive in full force. This will continue well into the summer. As I reported in early trade tasting articles on the 2014 rosés (to read those articles click here), the 2014 rosés seem particulary bright and crisp. Below are notes on some of the rosés that are favorites year in and year out. They include a new favorite rosé from Austria, the always stunning Clos de Beylesse from Côtes de Provence that comes in the absolutely drop dead gorgeous blue bottle as well as rosés from 2 of the best importers of rosé in the US : Hand Picked Selections (click here to visit the website) and Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant (click here to visit the website).
This is a great line up of rosés to get us started. The 2014 rosés reviewed here are absolutely delicious and very pure across the board. Tis the season. More to come. It’s time for rosé !
AUSTRIA
Austria is an under the radar wine producer making some beautiful wines such as the great Rieslings and Gruner Veltliners. Until, last year I had never tasted an Austrian rosé and I came across a terrfic one. Now it is back for a repeat performance. See below :
2014 Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg Cistercien Rosé Kamptal Austria
The name of this rosé is a real tongue twister. But, do not let that deter you! I first tasted the 2013 version of this wine last year when, along with our long time friend Ed Lazarus, my wife Laurie and I visited Blue Ginger in Boston. We drank a couple of bottles of it which matched beautifully with Ming Tsai’s superb cuisiné. Later, I bought some which we quickly drank (to read that note click here). Now there is the 2014. It too is crisp and delicious.
Very pale orange pink in color with a golden hue this rosé has a great floral perfume with hints of orange zest. Crisp with a very faint petillance the wine is fresh with lovely orange zest tinged fruit and is irrésistibly delicious – Outstanding. $14.99 A Terry Theise Estate Selection Imported by Skurnik Wines New York, NY
FRANCE
France is the undisputed leader in the production of rosés. It is a large part of France’s wine production and rosés from almost every wine area of France can be found here (to read more about rosés and French rosés click here).
Here is a note on the stunning 2014 Clos de Beylesse rosé from Provence in the gorgeous blue bottle as well as notes on a selection of French rosés imported by Hand Picked Selections who imports some of the best rosés at very attractive prices ranging from $12 to $22 and Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant who also imports some of the very best rosés across a very extensive range with prices ranging from around $14 to $40.
2014 Domaine de l’ Abbaye Clos Beylesse Rosé Côtes de Provence
I love this rosé and buy the wine every year (to read more about it click here ). It is always one of the most elegant and beautifully crafted rosés on the planet. And did I mention the gorgeous blue bottle?
Pale salmon pink in color this rosé has a gorgeous perfume of white peach and citrus with floral nuances. It has lovely, very pure fruit with hints of white peach and citrus accented by floral citrus notes and shows great balance, complexity, and charm. In short, this is a stunning rosé that really delivers year after year – Outstanding Plus. $24 Imported by Wine Emporium Brooklyn, NY
HAND PICKED SELECTIONS – WARRENTOWN, PA
2014 Château du Donjon Rosé Minervois
This property has been owned by the Paris family for over 500 years ! The rosé is made from 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 30% Cinsault grown on vines that are sustainably grown.
Very light pink in color with a golden hue the wine has a gorgeous floral perfume with hints of strawberry and watermelon with a touch of citrus and spice. It is very pure and crisp with loads of fruit suggesting strawberry and cherry with hints of watermelon and citrus and a faint spicy nuance – Outstanding. $16
2014 Château de Lancyre Rosé Pic Saint Loup
Made from 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 10% Cinsault, this rosé is absolutely stunning. It is light reddish pink in color with a faint golden edge and has a lovely complex perfume that is faintly floral and herbal with hints of cherry and a kiss of spice. With great elegance and finesse, yet very flavorful the wine is bright and crisp and shows floral citrus nuances and spice tinged cherry fruit. A very stylistic and delicious rosé, it is, in a word, delicious – Outstanding. $20
2014 Chateau Landereau Bordeaux Clairet (Rosé) Vin de Bordeaux
From Bordeaux and made with Bordeaux varietals – 30% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon – this rosé is light red in color with a lovely cherry perfume showing hints of rose petals. There is lots of lush floral tinged cherry fruit on the palate and the wine is balanced by a nice underlying crispness. This is an intensely fruity rosé that really delivers – Outstanding. $17
2014 Commanderie de la Bargemone Rosé Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence
This property was originally founded by the Templar Knights in the 13th century. Made from 36% Grenache, 26% Cinsault, 21% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Vermentino grown on 160 acres of sustainable vineyards, this is a consistently superb rosé. Very pale salmon pink in color with a golden hue, the wine has an intense floral perfume with hints of strawberry, peach, and citrus with an underlying floral note. With great finesse and balance, it is very pure and offers complex fruit flavors suggesting peach, citrus, and strawberry with faint herbal spice nuances. Without question, this is a stunning and very distinctive rosé – Outstanding Plus. $19
2014 Domaine Vaquer L’Ephemère Rosé Côtes du Roussillon
Made with 1/3 each Grenache, Syrah and Carignan, this rosé has a light reddish pink color with a golden edge and has a deep berry and cherry perfume with floral nunaces. Very pure and intensely fruity with berry and cherry fruit accented by a floral tinge, this is a delicious fruit driven rosé – Outstanding. $22
2014 Le Cirque Rosé Côtes Catalanes
Made from 35% Grenache Noir, 35% Syrah, and 30% Mourvèdre grown on old vines this rosé is light reddish pink in color with a golden hue and has a great floral perfume with hints of watermelon, strawberry, and citrus. With gorgeous very pure citrus tinged watermelon and strawberry fruit, the wine is beautifully balanced with great harmony and finesse – Outstanding. $15
2014 Domaine Le Pive Gris (Rosé ) Sable de Camargue
Made with organically grown grapes this rosé is 30% Grenache Gris, 30% Grenache Noir, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. It is pale salmon pink in color with a faint golden hue and has a lovely perfume with hints of peach and a floral citrus undertone. With lovely very pure fruit, the wine has a lot of finesse and elegance and is beautifully balanced – Outstanding. $16
2014 Penya Rosé Côtes Catalanes
This area became part of France in the 17th century and is still known as French Catalonia. This wine is made in a cooperative winery located in the tiny town of Cases De Penya from 96% Grenache Noir and 4% Syrah grapes grown by local growers. It is consistently lovely and a great value. Pale orange pink in color with a golden edge the wine has a very nice floral faintly smoky perfume with hints of orange zest and cherry. On the palate the wine has lovely bright fruit with hints of raspberry and melon with a hint of citrus and is very tasty – Highly Recommended Plus. $12
2014 Pink Pegau Rosé Vin de France
Made with 70% Cinsault, 20% Grenache, and 10% Clairette this rosé has a great balance between fruit, complexity, and crispness. It is light pink in color with a golden edge and has a lovely floral perfume with hints of citrus and spice and a faint suggestion of strawberry. With lovely very pure fruit showing subtle floral berry nuances, the wine is very flavorful and enticing with a bright acidity on the finish – Outstanding. $22
2014 Villa des Anges Old Vines Rosé Pays d’Oc
Made entirely from Cinsault grapes grown on old vines, This rosé is pale salmon pink in color with a golden hue and golden edge. It has a gorgeous perfume with hints of strawberries, raspberries, and citrus and is very crisp and very pure. Subtle hints of strawberry and raspberry with floral citrus nuances are very expressive and the wine is elegant and lush with a lovely balanced crispness. This is a great rosé value – Outstanding. $12
2014 Villa des Collines Rosé Alpes de Haute Provence
This rosé is made with 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and 15% Cinsault. It is pale salmon pink in color with a lovely faintly spice tinged floral perfume. Bright, crisp, and very pure, with subtle hints of melon and orange zest the is a lovely, finessful rosé – Highly Recommended Plus. $16
2014 Les Rocailles Rosé de Savoie Vin de Savoie
Made with 100% Gamay, this is a lovely rosé. It has a light reddish pink color with a golden edge and a floral/herbal perfume with subtle hints of raspberry and spice. Lush, but also bright and crisp on the finish the wine is balanced and has very good depth – Highly Recommended Plus. $18
KERMIT LYNCH WINE MERCHANT – BERKELEY, CA
2014 Château de Lescaux Languedoc Rosé
This domaine has been in the same family for thirteen generations. This rosé is made from 40% Cinsault, 30% Syrah, and 30% Grenache. Pale orange pink color with a faint golden edge, the wine has a lovely perfume with a faint floral nuance and hints of melon and citrus. The fruit is very pure and shows faint suggestions of peach and citrus and the wine is balanced with a nice underlying crispness. All in all, this is a lovely finesseful rosé – Highly Recommended Plus. $17
2014 Château Des Deux Rocs Languedoc Cabrières Rosé “Prèmices”
This Domaine was founded in 2012 and the vines are located at a very high elevation. This rosé is made of 60% Cinsault, 25% Syrah, and 15% Grenache Noir. Premices means sign of things to come. Pale pink in color with a golden hue, the wine has a lovely floral perfume with berry nuances. It is very pure and crisp with very nice fruit showing hints of cherry and is balanced and very apppealing – Highly Recommended Plus. $14.95
2014 Régis Bouvier Marsannay Rosé
Unusual for Burgundy, this domaine makes red, white, and rosé. The rosé is 100% Pinot Noir. It is consistently very fine. Light pink in color with a reddish hue and a golden edge, this 2014 is particularly bright and crisp. A floral, citrus, and berry perfume follows through on the palate and the wine is very pure and expressive with citrus tinged berry fruit and a lip smacking crispness. This is a serious rosé that is well matched with hardy foods – Outstanding. $23
2014 Domaine de Fontsainte Corbières Rosé Gris de Gris
The first vineyards at this domaine were planted by the Romans and the same family has owned the domaine since the 17th century. This rosé is a blend of 50% Grenache Gris, 20% Grenache Noir, 20% Carignan, 5% Cinsault, 5% Mourvèdre. Gris de Gris is rosé made from red grapes with a greyish colored skin such as Grenache Gris and Cinsault. Year in and year out this is a delicious rosé and it ages very well. This 2014 is absolutely true to form. It is pale orange pink in color with a golden hue and has a gorgeous floral perfume with hints of strawberry and cherry. The fruit is lovely and very pure with a floral undertone and the wine is rounded and lush with a nice underlying crispness. Absolutely irresistible, I buy this rosé every year. And, yes, it is a real value. If you have yet to try this rosé, now is the time – Outstanding Plus. $14.95
2014 Yves Luccia Patrimonio Rosé
This rosé is consistently really lovely. It is made from 60% Niellucciu and 40% Grenache grown in Patrimonio Corsica. Pale pink in color this 2014 has a pale pink color with a golden hue and golden edge. It has a great complex floral perfume with tinges of cherry and fresh herbs and is very finesseful and elegant. The flavors have a floral note with very subtle hints of cherry, strawberry, citrus and a very faint hint of herbal spice. This is an absolutely stunning rosé – Outstanding Plus. $28
4 comments for “2014 ROSÉS”
Great, mouthwatering review John. I`m motivated and inclined to seek out some of these and like you, I love Roses year round.
Cheers,
Blake
Thanks Blake. Finesse and crispness seem to be the mark of the 2014 rosés. It seems that each year we have more and more with which to choose. Life is good! More notes to come!!
In Vino Veritas,
John
Thanks for this effort. Living in Phoenix makes this information of year round relevance. We have access to several of these importers, and can order direct from California. I still prefer to taste before buying any quantity, but you have a lot of street cred in my house, since when you report on wines I happen to have had also, my notes look a lot like yours. Thanks again.
Thanks Frank. Rosés are much in evidence here all year round as well. I try many new ones each year, but I have a standing order for many of the same rosés each year. They are amazingly consistent year to year. The 2014s seem to be particularly bright, crisp, and finesseful. I am tasting new rosés almost on a daily basis and will have more notes to come.
In Vino Veritas,
John