I think year round is the season for rosé. But, the cries from some importers and retailers would imply the season is over. A friend mentioned to me in August that some East Coast importers and wholesalers were rushing to unload their remaining 2014 rosés. Why? Because in this country there is the fixation amongst a lot of importers, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers that the time for rosé is only in the spring and summer. That is sad, because this is just wrong. Do not be fooled. The merchant’s loss is your gain! Buy the rosés you like late in the season when offered at discount prices and drink them over a few years. And, yes even buy the rosés from the year before which are often sold at really low prices. Also, buy rosés every year and always have a reserve. Contrary to the merchants who treat rosé as a perishable commodity, it just isn’t true (to read earlier articles on this subject click here  and here).

So, is October the season for rosés? The answer is a resounding yes. And, so are November and December great times to drink rosé. And, as a matter of fact, so are all the other months of the year! Especially ideal times to enjoy rosé are anytime there is warm weather and during the late season holidays (to read more click here  and here). So, you see, I drink rosé all though the year depending on the weather and what I am eating. Also, during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays at our house rosé is always a big hit. Rosé is, for me, one of the most versatile food wines in the world (to read an article on this subject click here). And, rosé is still relatively unknown here and still mostly very affordable. But make no mistake the tide is changing. Rosés are becoming better known, their popularity is increasing, and there will be a time in the not to distant future that importers and distributors will have rosés available year round. Why? Because the public will demand it. And, remember that you heard it first from the Underground where we have been on this for many, many years.

So never being afraid to go where others fear to tread, here is an October report with notes on more recently purchased 2014 rosés that I really like (to read recent notes on other 2014 rosés click here  and here  and here). This is a great time to buy rosés because, as I previously said, they may be even cheaper than they were earlier in the year. And, if you buy too many to drink before the 2015s arrive next year, not to worry. Properly stored, rosés can keep for many years and a lot of them actually improve with some bottle age (Tavel, Sancerre, Chinon, and Provence and Bandol rosés are prime examples as are most other rosés). And, just to once again prove the point (to read an earlier more extensive article on rosés and their aging ability click here), I opened a couple of older rosés from my cellar to have with the 2014s. They were great and my notes on these older rosés follow at the end of this article.

CALIFORNIA

2014 Toad Hollow Eye of the Toad Dry Rosé of Pinot Noir Sonoma County
Toad Hollow makes some very nice reasonably priced wines and this Dry Rosé of Pinot Noir is consistently really good and a great value. It is fruit driven and made to be enjoyed young and should be consumed in the first couple of years after release. The attractive price point adds to the appeal. With a very light red color the wine has a lovely floral berry perfume with just a hint of spice. Very tasty and bright with lots of spice tinged cherry and raspberry fruit this is really lovely and especially enjoyable really cold – Highly Recommended.   $11.99

FRANCE

France is the world leader in the production of rosé. Provence is the center of rosé production, but virtually every other wine region of France also makes rosé. There are many great ones and most are very reasonably priced. Below are notes on some rosés that I recently purchased including some old favorites and some that are new to me.

2014 Domaine Saint Rémy Rosé d’Alsace
This domaine was founded in 1725! This rosé is made with Pinot Noir and has pale reddish orange color with a golden hue. With a subtle floral perfume it is supple and rounded with floral berry flavors and has depth and richness. A very nice rosé to enjoy with savory foods – Highly Recommended.   $19.99   Imported by Robert Kacher Selections New York, NY

 

2014 Jean Dumont Rosé D’Anjou Le Chant de l’Oiseau
Made from 100% Grolleau grapes this is a really delicious rosé. It is pale pink in color and has a gorgeous perfume with hints of honeysuckle, raspberry, and citrus. Very bright and crisp showing gorgeous raspberry tinged fruit with hints of grapefruit, the wine is also very elegant and finesseful with great charm and only 10.5% alcohol. And, perhaps most importantly, it is very easy to drink – Outstanding.   $10.99   Best Buy   Imported by Yountville Wine Imports Yountville, CA

 

2014 Chateau Pradeaux Bandol Rosé
A consistently lovely rosé this 2014 version is true to form. It has a pale orange pink color and a gorgeous spice tinged floral perfume. Flavorful and rounded with lovely fruit the wine is bright and crisp yet with depth and balance – Outstanding.   $27.00   Imported by Neal Rosenthal New York, NY

 

2014 Pins Du Pyla Bordeaux Rosé
This is a unique and delicious rosé. It has a pale golden pink color with a faintly floral perfume showing hints of frais du bois. Crisp and very pure there is mineral tinged berry fruit accented by a tinge of citrus and a faint spiciness. Elegance and finesse are the hallmarks of this rosé and it is very easy to drink – Outstanding.   $14.99   Imported by Yountville Wine Imports Yountville, CA

 

2014 Couly-Dutheil Chinon Rosé
Consistently a delicious fruit driven rosé, this 2014 is yet another winner. Very light red in color with a golden edge the wine has a great cherry and berry perfume with floral undertones. Very fruity with an abundance of cherry and berry fruit with faint spice tinges it is rounded and lush with a nice underlying crispness. Delicious is a great one word description and the wine is a great buy to boot – Outstanding.   $11.99   Best Buy   Imported by Grape Expectations Inc Richmond, CA

2014 Chateau La Tour de L’Evéque Pétale de Rosé Côtes de Provence
Pale amber orange in color with a golden hue this rosé has a lovely peach tinged floral perfume. It is elegant and finesseful with delicate flavors showing hints of melon and peach and is balanced with a lot of charm – Highly Recommended Plus.   $27.99  Imported by Summit Selection Staten Island, NY

2014 Domaine de Saint-Ser Sainte-Victoire Cuvée Prestige Rosé Côtes de Provence
This is a gorgeous rosé. It is pale pink in color with a faint orange hue and has a lovely floral perfume with hints of peach and citrus. The wine is bright and crisp, yet elegant and finesseful with melon, peach, and citrus flavors and has lots of appeal – Outstanding.   $20.99     Imported by Polander Selections Mount Kisco, NY

2014 Domaine de Niza Languedoc Rosé
Made with 40% Syrah, 40% Grenache, and 20% Mouvèdre this rosé has a light pink color with a golden hue. It has a lovely subtle perfume with hints of strawberry and finesseful and flavorful with hints of strawberry and citrus – Highly Recommended.  $14.99     Imported by GWE America Napa, CA

 

2014 Domaine Bart Marsannay Rosé
The Pinot Noir rosés from Marsannay in Burgundy are very special. Marsannay is the only area in Burgundy to make red wine, white wine, and rosé. I’m glad that there is Marsannay rosé. The few that I have tasted have all been really terrific including this one from Domaine Bart. Pale red in color with a pink tinge and a golden hue the wine has a great perfume showing cherry fruit with floral and spice accents and a tinge of citrus. Brimming with beautifully balanced fruit it is rounded with a nice underlying crispness and a really delicious rosé – Outstanding.   $19.99   Shipped by Jean-Marie De Champs Beaune and Imported by Wine House Ltd San Francisco, CA

 

2014 Francois Cotat Chavignol Sancerre Rosé
Francois and his cousin Pascal carry on the work of their fathers making Sancerre in an artisanal manner. Their wines are consistently great and on my buy list every year including the rosés. The rosés have subtle differences, but both are wonderful and capable of aging for a very long time. (A note on the 2009 Pascal Cotat Chavignol Sancerre follows at the end of this article).

Pale orange in color with a golden hue this rosé has a gorgeous floral perfume with hints of citrus and raspberry. It is elegant, bright, and crisp with citrus and raspberry tinged fruit and a distinct underlying minerality. The wine is attractive now, but is a baby that will blossom with some additional bottle age – Outstanding Plus.     $24.99       Imported by Skurnik Wines New York, NY

 

2014 Pascal Cotat Chavignol Sancerre Vin de Table Rosé
Light reddish pink in color with a golden hue and a golden edge this rosé has a stunning floral perfume with hints of fresh herbs and citrus with a faint mineral nuance. With great intensity and focus the wine is bright and crisp with subtle hints of cherry and citrus intermingled with a touch of fresh herbs and minerality. This is a serious rosé that is a bit restrained just now, but make no mistake, it will become something really special with a bit more bottle age – Outstanding Plus.   $35   Imported by Skurnik Wines New York NY

2014 Joseph Mellot Vigne de La Demoiselle Sancerre Rosé
Sancerre rosés are consistently some of my favorite rosés. I have my favorites which I buy every year and whenever I see one that I do not know I buy it. This one came to my attention via an email offer from a close out wine retailer that often has amazing bargains. So I tried it. It is lovely and represents very good value for a Sancerre rosé. Very light orange pink in color the wine has a very light orange pink color and a lovely floral perfume with hints of cherry. It is crisp and bright with subtle cherry tinged fruit showing hints of citrus and a nice underlying mineral tinged crispness – Highly Recommended.   $13.99   Imported by DHI Manhassat, NY

 

2014 Château D’Aqueria Tavel Rosé
The back label of this wine is shown below:

 

This speaks to the attractiveness of the area of Tavel and its world wide reputation as well as Château D’Aqueria. It should be remembered that Tavel is the only appellation in the world where only rosé is made and for many years Château D’Aqueria has maintained a reputation for being one of the best. So it should come as no surprise that Château D’Aqueria has been one of my favorite rosés going back many years. It is a very versatile wine that will complement a wide variety of foods, but I find it is particularly well matched with savory foods. As an example, it is a great complement to traditional Thanksgiving roast turkey and all the trimmings, but is also wonderful with ham. And, it keeps for years and ages beautifully. This 2014 is true to form and has the added attraction of being a great value. Pale red in color with slight amber edge the wine has a gorgeous floral perfume with strawberry undertones. It is brimming with strawberry and cherry fruit and has a bright underlying crispness that brings everything together.
Don’t miss this one. Thanksgiving is just around the corner – Outstanding.   $13.99    Best Buy     Imported by Kobrand Corporation Purchase, NY

 

2014 Domaine De Fondrèche Ventoux Rosé
Always one of the lightest colored rosés, Domaine De Fondrèche is also one of the most finesseful and elegant while maintaining a nice underlying richness and flavor. This 2014 is a gorgeous example. It has a very pale color with only the faintest blushes of gold and pink. But, it is so pale I wonder if this might be the lightest colored rosé ever? I don’t know, but it is close. No matter, except for the fact that most often the very lightest colored rosés are some of the best. This 2014 Domaine De Fondrèche Ventoux Rosé has a great floral perfume with peach and citrus nuances and a kiss of spice. It is elegant, finesseful, and very pure with faint hints of citrus and peach and the faintest suggestion of spice. Balanced and very refined with delicate flavors and a nice underlying crispness, this is a rosé with great appeal – Outstanding.   $16.99   Imported by Robert Kacher Selections New York NY

GERMANY

It has been only recently that I have become acquainted with German rosés. And, I must say it was love at first taste. I am smitten. They capture the essence of the grape and the wines are very pure and delicate, yet flavorful and a joy to drink. Here is yet another one.

2014 Schnaitmann Württemberg Qualitátswein Evoé Rosé
This is a bright crisp rosé with only 11% alcohol. It has a pale pink color and lovely floral perfume with faint hints of raspberry and strawberry with a tinge of spice. Elegant with a lot of finesse, the wine has subtle raspberry tinged fruit with a hint of citrus and is very easy to drink – Highly Recommended Plus.   $14.99   Imported by Cellars International Rudi Weist Carlsbad, CA

GREECE

Rosé from Greece? New to me. But, when I came across these wines while shopping at Corti Brothers recently, I had to try them. I’m really glad I did. They are unique and very tasty. So if you come across them, be sure to give them a try. You will probably be the only one in your neighborhood that knows Greek rosés. And, besides, the Greek economy could use a little help! So that is a 3 bagger!

2014 Gala Wines Rosé 14-18h Peloponnisos
This wine is made from Agiorgitiko grapes. The name 14-18h refers to the amount of time the wine stays in contact with the skins. Pale reddish pink in color with a golden hue it has a nice clean floral perfume with a touch of spice. On the palate there are flavors of cranberry and citrus and faint spiciness with a nice underlying crispness on the finish – Highly Recommended.   $14.99   Imported by Athenee Importers and Distributors, Ltd Hempstead. NY

2014 Meliasto Spiropoulos Rosé
This is a really lovely rosé. It is pale reddish pink in color and has a lovely perfume with a touch of citrus and watermelon with a faint hint of spice. Crisp and bright with citrus tinges and hints of watermelon and raspberry the wine is balanced and very easy to drink – Highly Recommended Plus.   $16.99   Imported by Athenee Importers and Distributors, Ltd Hempstead. NY

ITALY

Italy makes some lovely rosés. The Corte Bardoni is an old favorite and the other two are new to me. So follow my lead and buy some Italian rosés that may not be familiar to you. I think you will be very pleasantly surprised.

2014 Corte Bardoni Bardolino Chiaretto Rosé
Pale pink in color with an orange hue and a golden edge this rosé has a deep fruity perfume with hints of cherry, melon, and citrus. It is very crisp with hints of cherry and touch of citrus and is bright and very tasty – Highly Recommended.   $14     Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkley, CA

2014 Anna Maria Cruciata Alfa Tauri Maremma Toscana Val de Toro Rosé
This rosé is made from 100% Sangiovese. It is pale pink in color with a lovely floral spice tinged perfume showing faint hints of raspberry. It has a lot of finesse and style with delicate citrus tinged raspberry fruit and a nice underlying crispness – Highly Recommended.   $14.99     Imported by Yountville Wine Imports Yountville, CA

2014 Fattoria Moretto Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro Rosé
This rosé is very unusual and may be the most unique rosé on the planet. It has a lovely faintly musky perfume with hints of mulberry and raspberry. Bright, crisp and faintly sparkling with tart cherry and raspberry fruit this is a very full flavored rosé. It is delicious and most attractive ice cold or even with ice crystals as the fruit is actually accentuated when the wine is really cold – Highly Recommended.    $19.99   Imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant Berkley, CA

SPAIN

Spain makes many really good rosés and some are incredible bargains. The Marqués de Cáceres rosé is a prime example of a great bargain.

2014 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Rosé
Light reddish pink in color this rosé has a nice floral perfume with berry nuances. It is light with floral tinged berry fruit and is clean and crisp on the finish – Recommended Plus.   $6.99   Best Buy   Imported by Vineyard Brands Birmingham, AL

OLDER ROSÉS FROM 2009 AND 2010

When I am tasting and drinking the newest vintage of rosé, I always like to intermingle some older ones. As I have said over and over, rosés can age beautifully and here are 2 great ones that I enjoyed in the past few weeks. No doubt I will have some 2014 rosés to drink in a few years with the then current vintage. And, guess what? I will have the same positive results with them that I have had with every vintage of rosé that I have every purchased!

 

2009 Pascal Cotat Vin de Table Chavignol Sancerre
The word rosé does not appear on the label of this wine. But, it is a rosé and it is amazing. Light golden orange in color with a golden edge it has a stunning exotic perfume with hints of coconut, fraises du bois, and a faint floral nuance. Lush, supple, and rounded with a myriad of red fruits accented by coconut and citrus tinges this rosé has complexity and balance and is great by any standard – Outstanding Plus.

 

2010 Bernard Baudry Chinon Rosé
Pale pink in color with a faint golden hue this rosé has a great perfume with hints of strawberry and raspberry and a faint hint of spice. It is very bright and crisp with lovely floral tinged strawberry and raspberry flavors and has a nice underlying crispness. Delicious is a great one word description – Outstanding.

This is my fourth article on 2014 rosés. So that’s it for rosé articles this year (to read recent notes on other 2014 rosés click here  and here  and here).

But, keep your eyes open and try other 2014 rosés as you find them. I know I will as I am always looking for a new rosé to try. In the world of rosé there are almost endless opportunities! That’s a good thing!!!

Cheers!