The 2009 Rosés will soon be gone.  If you have not done so, now is the time to buy some for the Holidays.  They are very versatile and match very well with a wide variety of food.

2009 Abel Clement  Rosé Grenache Vin de Pays du Vaucluse
The Abel Clement estate is situated in the department of Vaucluse in the western section of Provence in the lower Rhone Valley.
Light salmon-pink in color, this Rosé has a lovely perfume of floral and spice nuances.  The wine has very nice fruit, hinting of cherries, with floral and spice tones and a nice, crisp finish.  A lovely wine – Highly Recommended.  Grape Expectations, Inc., Richmond, CA $7.99  Best Buy

 

2009 Chateau Maylandie  Rosé Corbières Le Cabanon (50% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 15% Syrah)
Located in the Corbières wine region in the Languedoc, this estate has belonged to the Maymil family for over half a century.  The family has made improvements in the grape varieties and the cellar but continue to follow traditional winemaking techniques.  The soil of pebble, chalk and clay and the Mediterranean climate produce distinctive wines.
A very nice Rosé, it has a light salmon-pink color and a lovely perfume of floral and spice tones.  The wine is soft, supple and round, with lovely floral and spice nuances and citrus-tinged fruit in the mouth – Highly Recommended.  Charles Neal Selections, Richmond, CA  $9.99  Best Buy

 

2009 Chateau Saint-Pierre  Rosé Cuvee Tradition Cotes de Provence (60% Cinsault, 40% Grenache
Part of a four-generation family of wine producers, Jean-Philippe Victor has been managing this estate in the Cotes de Provence, which dates to the 11^th Century, since 1987.
This is a lovely Rosé with a light salmon-pink color showing a golden hue.  It has a very nice perfume that hints of peach, with a floral and spice nuance.  On the palate, the wine is soft, supple and round with a hint of peach and citrus and a faint floral undertone – Highly Recommended.  International Vineyards, LLC, San Jose, CA  $9.99  Best Buy

 

2009 Corte Gardoni  Bardolino Chiaretto Rosé (blend of Rondinella, Corvina and Molinara)
Established in 1980, this is a well-respected estate, owned by the Piccoli family,  in the Lake Garda district of Italy.  The fine, dry Rosato is made in a very tiny production.
The wine is salmon-pink in color, with a golden edge, and has a very nice perfume that hints of raspberry, with faint floral and citrus nuances.  The flavors are similar, with very nice fruit and a nice, crisp finish – Highly Recommended.  Kermit Lynch, Berkeley, CA  $11.79 

2009 Domaine Comte Abbatuccio Ajaccio Rosé Cuvee Faustine
This Domaine occupies over 50 acres on the island of Corsica in the area of Ajaccio which is the capital.  The vineyards are some of the oldest on the island and are comprised of Vermentinu, Sciaccarellu, Niellucciu and Barbarossa grapes.  The Cuvee Faustine is made from Sciaccarellu, which locals call the Mediterranean Pinot Noir, and a small amount of Barbarossa to give the wine weight and structure.
The wine is pale salmon-pink in color, with a faint golden hue and golden edge.  The perfume is subdued, but intriguing.  Faint nuances of spice and minerals are accented by hints of berry, melon and citrus.  Delicate and crisp with citrus, berry and floral nuances, this is a lovely, tasty Rosé in a finesseful style — Highly Recommended.  Kermit Lynch, Berkeley, CA  $26 

2009 Domaine de Nizas  Rosé Coteaux du Languedoc (40% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre)
Founded in 1998, this is a small, single-vineyard estate in the hillsides of the Coteaux du Languedoc in Southern France.  It is part of the Goelet Wine Estates, owned by John Goelet, creator of Clos du Val in Napa, and Bernard Portet, President of Clos du Val.  The other estates include Taltarni in Australia and Clover Hill and Lalla Gully in Tasmania.
A lovely Rosé, it has a light salmon-pink color and a very attractive floral perfume with a faint citrus tinge.  The wine has very nice berries on the palate, with underlying floral nuances.  It is very tasty, balanced and has a nice finish – Highly Recommended.  Clos du Val Wine Co., Ltd., Napa, CA  $14.59 

2009 Domaine Spiropoulos Meliasto Rosé
This estate is situated in the Peloponessos region of Greece and this Rosé is made entirely from Moschofilero grapes.
Medium-pink in color, the wine offers a lovely perfume of berry fruit with candied nuances.  It has lovely fruit of strawberries, with a touch of citrus.  A delicious Rosé, with lovely fruit and a crisp finish, this is really terrific  – Outstanding.  Athenee, Hempstead, NY  $16.69

2009 Rive Sud Selection Rosé Pinot Noir Fruitage Pays d’Oc
This Rosé is light salmon-pink in color, with a golden hue and has a nice floral perfume that hints of cherry fruit.  It is soft, round, supple and flavorful again, hinting of cherry fruit on the palate, with a floral undertone.  A lovely wine – Highly Recommended.  Planet Wines, LLC, Oakland, CA  $9.99 Best Buy

2009 Toad Hollow Dry Pinot Noir Rosé Eye of the Toad Sonoma County
Established in 1994 in the Russian River Valley, this winery is a collaboration of two old friends, recently retired at that time.  For more on this story, read the Legend of Toad Hollow at www.toadhollow.com/about_legends.asp.
This is a stunning Rosé with a light reddish-pink color and a very fruity perfume of cherries and raspberries.  The wine is very tasty, with lots of cherry/berry fruit on the palate and is zesty and crisp.  It is an absolutely terrific, intensely fruity, dry Rosé.  The mission of Toad Hollow is to offer stellar wines at an affordable price.  This one does just that! Bravo!  Outstanding.  $9.99  Best Buy